Yo! Here's my entry into the 1-hour challenge, in the nature
of an opening/teaser/first part. GSC appears courtesy of
Kenichi Sonoda; Ranma 1/2 is (c) SS Comics / Rumiko Takahasi.
Consider, if you will, the Earth. A generally insignificant, rocky
planet in the inner system of the mild yellow sun known as Sol, it
carries such a bewildering variety of life and features that
cataloging even one tiny section's biosphere can keep itinerant
graduate students in grant money and beer for decades. However, it is
a well-known fact that beneath this seemingly incalculable teeming of
life, causal connections and far-flung acquaintances connect
everything in a close-knit web.
For instance, take the two metropolises, Tokyo and Chicago. Widely
separated in both locale and culture, they share many connections.
Both are known as centers of business and shipping; both are big gray
concrete anthills constantly shrouded by the constant brown outpouring
of their internal-combustion transportation systems. Both harbor
their share of villains and bureaucrats; usually these are housed in
government buildings so that the general populace can know their
whereabouts at all times. Both are known for their well-established
criminal organizations, and for their occasionally combative and
quirky residents.
Looking even more closely, the connections between the two cities
become even more obvious. If it were possible to see the lines of
friendship and enmity that hold people together across the globe,
there would be a shining web strung between the two cities. As an
example, this man in Detroit -
"Alright, Rally, you win... I'll never run drugs again!"
- has unsuspected ties to this man in Tokyo -
"Curse you, Ranma!! I'll destroy your happiness forever!"
- that will cause these men in very sharp suits and spiffy
sunglasses -
"_Find_ the Roadbuster prototype, and _destroy_ it!"
"Hai!!"
- to become very, very unhappy. So unhappy, that _this_ sound -
<Ka-CHAK>
- followed by _this_ sound -
<Brattabrattabrattabratta...chik>
- will be heard throughout parts of Tokyo that have quite enough to
worry about already. In fact, events have already been put in motion
for...
_Roadbuster Ryouga_
"Mad, Bad, and Dangerous Behind The Wheel"
By
Martin L. Metke
AKA Sleet01
Ukyou looked up from her trashy romance novel, surprised to hear a
customer enter her okonomiyaki-ya at this usually dead hour. Ten in
the morning on Saturdays was normally her break time, as many kids
were still in cram schools, and much of the populace was still asleep
or relaxing at home. She wasn't quite as surprised when she stepped
from the back room and found Ryouga Hibiki standing in the middle of
the dining area, intently studying an upside-down National Geographic
map of Zimbabwe.
"Hey, Ryouga, you lost again?" She asked, using a small origami
spatula to mark her place in the book. He looked up, distracted, then
grinned as he recognize Ukyou. Folding up the map, he dropped his
pack and plopped down at one of the bar stools.
"Ukyou, I need you to help me out."
"What's up, sugar?" She leaned on the counter, cocking her head.
"You need to get home or something?"
"Actually... I need you to go with me to Shinjuku."
Ukyou laughed in surprise, shaking her head. "Sorry, Ryouga, I've
got a store to run... besides, what do you need in Shinjuku?" Pushing
her long hair back with one hand, she set about preparing the kitchen
for business; in a couple of hours, the lunch crowd would hit in full
force, bringing in most of the revenue for the day. She could hear
paper rustling again, and turned to find Ryouga digging a battered
envelope from his rucksack.
"My brother needs me to help him out; something about picking a
package up and taking it down to the docks. He's going to be in town
for a few hours tomorrow, for some kind of meeting, so he asked me to
take care of this for him." Ryouga opened the envelope, pulled out a
letter and some instant photographs, and carefully spread them on the
counter.
"So, can't you just take the train line to Shinjuku?" Ukyou asked,
picking up one of the photographs. A huge grinning man, muscles
bulging under a leather bomber jacket and tight jeans, was leaning
against a classic-looking sports car; two attractive young women, both
dwarfed in the man's presence, stood on either side of him. Looking
from Ryouga to the man in the picture, Ukyou noticed some definite
similarities: same huge canines, same shock of black hair falling over
their foreheads; they even wore similar bandannas, although Ryouga's
was patterned where the other man's was plain red. "This is your
brother?"
"Yeah, he's actually my half-brother. My dad used to be married to
this lady named Shinobu, before he met my mom; Bean's the only child."
Picking up the other photograph, he studied it noncommittally. "We
don't actually see each other much, even for Hibikis. Still, he's
family, so..."
Ukyou nodded in understanding, dropping the photo to examine the
envelope.
"His name's Bean? From...Chi-ka-go, Iri-no-isu?" Ukyou's brow
clenched as she tried to decipher the scrawled English lettering;
having not much luck, she picked up the letter. The handwriting was
blocky, crude, as though unfamiliar to the writer.
"Chicago, Illinois, in the United States." With a sigh, Ryouga
dropped his head on his arms. He muttered disconsolately "I can't
take the trains because I can't find the train station! I've been
searching for three days! If Bean hadn't sent this by personal
courier, I'd never have gotten it; I don't want to let him down
because of this cursed sense of direction!"
Ukyou hmmm-ed, but put the letters down with a sense of finality.
She couldn't afford to miss a business day, even for a semi-buddy like
Ryouga. "Sorry, Sugar. I can't help you out today."
"I can reimburse you, if you help me get there. Bean sent this card
for me, too." Ryouga held up a shiny silver bank card, emblazoned
with Ryouga's name in kanji and roman letters. Ukyou pursed her lips,
debating with herself.
"Why don't you call a cab," she asked.
"I don't have any cash... I haven't been able to find an ATM."
Ryouga grimaced in disgust, clenching his hands; at Ukyou's chuckle,
he realized he was bending the card almost to snapping, and sheepishly
put it away. "Or a phone," he muttered, and Ukyou sighed, shaking her
head.
"Okay, sugar, but you're gonna owe me big for this."
"Thanks, Ukyou. I promise, this will be a cinch."
"Where have I heard _that_ before? Hang on while I get my stuff."
Ryouga began repacking his ruck, oblivious to the sallow face that
peered quickly through the open doorway.
Outside, the thin, wiry man in a grungy suit popped open a small
cel-phone, walking quickly into a nearby alley.
"I've got the kid. You want me to nail him now? Follow him? You
got it, boss." He folded the phone away, reached into his jacket, and
pulled out a compact pistol. After checking the action and clip, he
reholstered the weapon and lit a cigarette.
"You're gonna regret this, kid. Roadbuster is ours."
C&C Welcomed, of course; if you had a problem with the formatting,
_please_ let me know; my mailer is evil, and must be punished.
Ja!
Martin
---,-@
Martin L. Metke
exaxxion@balista.com
sleet01@hotmail.com
"I laughed, I cried, I fell down, it changed my life... it was good!"