Could somebody repost this in _text_ format?
OK. It's also been run through Spellcheck. I'm sorry if the teams are
really supposed to be the Red "Angles" and "Cresent" Hawks.
From: Phoenix@citynet.net
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 14:57:30 -0500
X-Attachments: C:\RANMA1.DOC;
X-Mailing-List: <fanfic@tendo-dojo.ranma.net> archive/latest/779
Subject: [FanFic] [FanFic] Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo
Phoenix@citynet.net -
Ranma 1/2: Mechwarrior: Prologue
By: James "Phoenix" Jones
The stadium was packed to capacity. Thousands of screaming
patrons crowded the railing looking into the ring. Each one was
cheering madly for the competitors that hadn't even entered yet.
Outside, a man and a woman stood, looking at the standings
of the various teams. The woman was dressed in a kimono dyed in
varying shades of blue, her brown hair tied up around her head.
Her expression was troubled. Turning to the man she said, "I'm
not sure this is a good idea, Genma. . . . these tournaments can
get awfully rough. Are you sure you want to let Ranma see this?"
The man turned toward her, his face all smiles. He was
wearing a white and grey uniform with several designs embroidered
on the sleeves. "War is a part of life, Nodoka." he said. "This
is a good way for him to get used to it."
"He's only seven years old!" she screamed, quickly turning
bright red as several people began to stare at her.
"Why don't we ask him?" Genma countered. Tilting his head
up slightly, he asked, "Well, Ranma, what'll it be?"
The little boy sitting on Genma's shoulders ceased looking
around at the monitors and looked down at his father. Like Genma,
he was wearing a white and gray uniform. His black hair fell down
in an unbraided ponytail. "I wanna see the tournament." he said
enthusiastically.
"See." Genma said.
"But, Genma." Nodoka said. "I don't think. . ." she
trailed off as Ranma stared at her with his big gray eyes.
"Please, mommy?" he asked, in as pathetic a voice as he
could manage.
Nodoka hated when he did that, almost as much as she hated
the fact that he had learned the trick from her. "Oh. . . all
right." she said, giving in.
Genma walked up and showed the guard his pass. Luckily for
him, he had a friend who held a permanent box room near the top of
the stadium and allowed him its use whenever he wanted.
"Aloha, Everybody!!! Welcome to Solaris VII!!!" an
announcer called. "The moment you have all been waiting for is
arrived!!!" Ranma looked at the announcer through the glassteel
protection screen and laughed. He was wearing a flowered shirt
and seemed to have a palm tree growing out of his head. Behind
him, he heard his parents laughing as well.
"In the red section of the stadium: The undefeated
champions of stadium one! Led by Jason Youngblood and his father
Jeremiah Youngblood. The former elite of the Lyran Commonwealth!
THE CRESCENT HAWKS!!!!!!!!!"
An outrageous cheer rose from the crowd as the Hawk
battlemechs emerged from their hanger.
"Ranma." Genma whispered. "Can you tell me what kind of
'mech that is in the lead?" As he finished, Genma pointed his
finger at the 'mech piloted by Jason Youngblood, its Crescent Hawk
insignia painted proudly over its left breast.
Ranma looked at the mech for a second then said, "A
Phoenix Hawk."
Genma smiled broadly and patted Ranma on the head. Nodoka
leaned in and asked, "Where did he learn that?"
Genma looked at her rather sheepishly and said nothing.
Nodoka smiled at him sweetly and a moment later, pantomimed a knife
going over her throat. Genma gulped audibly. Smiling back at his
wife, he nodded, then he noticed Ranma's all too innocent
expression and decided to turn around. The 'throat slit' was his
wife's private joke, one that Ranma didn't need to know about.
"And in the blue section: The undefeated champions from
stadium eight! Led by Lance Murdock of the Draconis Combine! THE
RED ANGELS!!!!"
Again the crowd cheered as the 'mechs moved out their
hangers.
A moment later, the signal to begin sounded. The battle
began with just a few potshots here and there. However, when an
Angel suddenly exploded, the battle began in earnest.
The trio stared in wide eyed wonder as the teams exchanged
fire.
"Saotome! Is that you?"
Genma turned around and looked at the speaker. Outlined in
the door frame stood a man wearing a brown uniform similar to his
own. His black hair and mustache gave him away instantly.
"Tendo!?" Genma asked.
The two jumped up and shook hands. Ranma and Nodoka looked
inquisitively at each other, neither one recognizing the man.
"Where have you been, you old bastard!" Genma asked. "And
how the hell'd you get up here?"
Soun broke away from his friend and smoothed out his
mustache. "I live on Morningside." he said. "As to how I got
here, a friend owed me a couple of tickets. What about you?"
"We live on Tharkad now."
"We?"
Genma suddenly realized that it had been almost twelve
years since he had even spoken with his friend. Leading him away
from the door he brought him over to where Nodoka and Ranma were
standing. "Soun Tendo." he said. "Allow me to introduce my wife,
Nodoka Mano Saotome. Nodoka, Soun Tendo."
"A pleasure." the said in unison, shaking hands.
"And my son, Ranma Saotome." Genma continued.
Ranma immediately walked up and shook Soun's hand. "Strong
grip, young man." Soun commented.
"Thank you." Ranma replied.
"Oh that reminds me." Soun said, turning around. Behind
him stood three young girls, each one staring into the room with
inquisitive expressions. He motioned to them and they walked
through the door.
"Genma, Nodoka and Ranma Saotome." he said. "This is my
family."
Soun introduced each of his daughters in turn. Kasumi, the
eldest had just turned twelve and was the picture of politeness to
the Saotomes. Nabiki, the second oldest, was now nine and smiled
at them sweetly between looks at her pocket computer. Akane, the
youngest, was now seven. Ranma's gaze lingered on her for a few
seconds.
"What is it?" she asked, annoyed that he was staring.
Ranma just nodded numbly and turned away as fast as he
could, directing his attention back to the battle. Akane walked up
to join him.
"I think Ranma is getting the first pang of 'spring fever',
Genma." Nodoka commented. Soun looked at Akane, a shocked
expression on his face. Genma laughed. Kasumi and Nabiki just
looked on, not understanding.
Back at the window, Akane and Ranma had their faces pressed
tight against the window, watching the action. Ranma turned to
look at her and extended his hand. "Hi." he said. "I'm Ranma
Saotome, pleased to meetcha. Sorry I didn't say 'hi' a minute
ago."
Akane looked at him questioningly for a minute. <What's he
doing?> she asked herself. She stared at the hand for a couple of
seconds. <Guess he's just trying to be nice.> she finally
concluded. "Hi." she said. "I'm Akane Tendo, pleased to meet you
too."
The two shook hands and turned back to the window.
Soun watched the exchange in amusement. Once Nabiki and
Kasumi had moved to the window, he turned to Nodoka and said, "You
may be right, Mrs. Saotome." he said. "Akane is getting along
unusually well with him."
"What do you mean, Mr. Tendo?" she asked. "Oh, and please
call me Nodoka."
"All right, I'll call you Nodoka if you'll call me Soun."
he replied.
"Deal." she said.
"As to what I meant, Akane has been training in martial
arts for about a year now and she's quite good." he said.
"So is Ranma." Genma interjected.
"Really? Maybe they could train together." Soun said,
getting off track.
"Maybe." Genma said.
"Oh. . . anyway," Soun continued. "The boys in Akane's
school are either always picking on her because they think she's a
threat to their egos, or they're pestering her to date them."
"Children start early these days, don't they." Nodoka said.
"I'll say." Soun said. "Nabiki goes through a boyfriend
every couple of weeks."
The three laughed and turned back to watch the match.
"So what're you into, Akane?" Ranma asked.
"Oh," she started. "I do some martial arts with my dad.
That's about it."
"You any good at it?"
"Pretty good." she answered. "What about you? What're
you into?"
"I do martial arts too and I'm pretty good myself." he
answered. "Then someday I hope to be a mechwarrior."
"Really! Me too!" Akane replied. Despite herself, she was
beginning to like Ranma. "Everybody says I could probably do it,
even my. . . why are you smiling."
"I'm sorry." Ranma said. "It's just that everybody knows
that girls make lousy mechwarriors."
"Is that so!?" she asked.
"Yeah." Ranma replied, matter-of-factly.
"RANMA NO BAKA!!!!!" Akane screamed, pouncing at him.
Ranma brought his hands up to block, but she was too fast
and knocked him down. A few seconds later the Saotomes and the
Tendos were gathered around, watching the little match.
Kasumi looked on in shock. <You'd think she could take a
joke.> she thought.
<Hmm. . . I wonder how much money I can get out of Akane to
keep this quiet?> Nabiki thought.
Nodoka turned to Genma and Soun. "Stop them, would you?!"
she said.
The two men laughed and told her it was just all in fun.
Soun commenting that Akane must actually like Ranma or he would be
unconscious by now. Genma made a similar comment and Nodoka just
rolled her eyes. When they turned back, Ranma was sitting on
Akane's back.
Genma walked over and lifted Ranma up on his shoulders.
Soun moved in to help Akane up.
"I can be a warrior too, Ranma!" she said, fighting to hold
back tears. "I'll show you."
Ranma waved his hand at her and said, "Only a tomboy like
you would want to try. So don't let me stop you."
The two didn't talk to each other through the rest of the
match, but when their parents weren't looking, the cast side-long
glances at each other, smiling occasionally. Behind them, their
parents chatted about old times, hardly paying any attention to the
'mechs.
In the end, the Hawks won the match. Mostly by virtue of
Jason being the only one still standing on the field.
By this time Ranma and Akane were both half asleep. Their
respective parents picked them up and said their goodbyes,
promising to stay in touch from now on.
Ranma was again sitting on his father's shoulders. Turning
around, he saw Soun retreating, Akane sitting on his shoulders. To
his surprise, she was also looking at him.
<I hope you can become a mechwarrior someday, Akane-chan.>
he thought.
Feeling his son turn around, Genma asked, "You like her
don't you, Ranma?"
Ranma looked down and said, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!"
Genma and Nodoka laughed as they walked away.
*************************************************
Well there it is. The story of how Ranma and Akane meet in the
BattleTech Universe. This is just a prologue to the actual story
though. In the actual story, I hope to have all (or at least most
of) the main characters as part of Ranma's BattleTech team. The
story will have, (I hope) lots of action and drama (I may throw in
some lemon scenes, but I haven't decided on that yet.)^_^
I have four chapters of this storyline in my mind right now. I
will post them as soon as possible.
If you have any, suggestions, comments, criticisms, etc. e-mail me
at Phoenix@citynet.net
All mail will be replied to. All flames will be read, thought
over, laughed at and promptly discarded.
I hope that you enjoyed this little prologue.
The Characters of Ranma 1/2 are of course the property of Rumiko
Takahashi.
The BattleTech Universe is a Registered trademark of FASA. The
names Jason and Jeremiah Youngblood, as well as the Crescent Hawks
were taken from the POWERHITS: BATTLETECH games; THE CRESCENT
HAWK'S INCEPTION AND CRESCENT HAWK'S REVENGE by Activision.
Thanks for reading and e-mail me as soon as possible.
Robin
work: robin@quintar.com home: robdpage@ix.netcom.com