D-Ranger
10-13-2003, 09:21 AM
Previous stories can be found archived at:
http://www.geocities.com/rpatersonca/DRanger.html
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D-Ranger 7: The Lost Broadcast! Battle on Tokyo Tower!
By Robyn Paterson (rob_paterson@hotmail.com)
“So, I have a question?”
Brad looked up at his girlfriend Theresa from where he sat on the floor watching the TV perched on a nearby milk-carton in her residence room. She was studying at her desk, and he was just keeping her company with her exams coming up.
“Fifty-six,” he answered her.
She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. “I didn’t ask my question.”
“Oh fine,” he said pretending to be impatient. “Ask it then.”
Her eraser bounced off his head.
“Ow!”
“Serves you right.” She quipped. “So, what’s the difference between Endothermic and Exothermic?”
“Is that all? That’s so easy! I can’t believe you don’t know that!” He shook his head in mock disappointment.
Her green eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “So, Einstein. Enlighten me.”
“Sorry,” he said apologetically. “I can’t do that. If I do, you won’t learn it on your own.”
“Grrr,” she growled and went back to her books. “Never mind.”
“You hungry?” Brad asked.
“Yeah,” she leaned back. “I could so go for sushi right now. But, it’s like 3am.”
Brad got a mischievous look in his eyes.
“What?” She asked.
“Not in Japan.” He grinned.
* * *
“I so can’t believe you did this!” Theresa laughed, holding onto Brad’s arm as they walked down the late autumn streets of one of downtown Tokyo’s main thoroughfares. The streets were filled with the hustle and bustle of late afternoon as the office workers and salarymen flooded from their buildings onto the streets. Chestnut haired schoolgirls in short skirts walked arm-in-arm laughing and talking, their black suited male counterparts racing and jumping around them as they dashed through the crowd.
“Why not?” Brad grinned. “Not like the D-Corps don’t owe me something for all the crap I’ve had to go through.”
“You don’t get paid?” She looked shocked. “How are you living?”
“I used to have a job, but I lost it after I spent two weeks in a hospital in Eastern Europe.”
“So, now what do you do?”
“Employment insurance,” he winked. “Being Canadian is a wonderful thing. I figure it will get me by until this whole D-Ranger thing is done, and then I’ll figure something out.”
“I can’t believe they expect you to do all this for nothing.” She said unhappily as they stopped with the crowd at a crosswalk, then looked up at Brad when she realised he was looking at her and smiling.
“What?!?”
“I don’t do it for nothing,” he said thoughtfully as he looked forward and the crowd began to move again.
* * *
“Welcome to Tokyo Tower,” the blue and red uniformed girls announced as they bowed in unison.
“Thank you! Thank you ladies!” Ulysses Jinn grinned brightly and bowed back, making the two young ladies giggle and look at each other.
Jinn was a tall thin brown-skinned man with a long moon-shaped face and a pointed chin, he had jovial eyes and a wide white smile. He wore a striped purple business suit with a black vest and white shirt underneath, the sleeves of his shirt and business jacket tied and folded neatly at his side because he had no arms to fill them with.
“Gentlemen!” He announced to the two rows of suited men behind him. “Where’s your manners? Bow to the ladies!”
Behind Jinn a dozen large caucasian men clad in black suits carrying black leather briefcases bowed in unison, their mirrored sunglasses glinting in the afternoon light. They were all virtually identical, save for the lead one of each row, who had red handkerchiefs flowing neatly from their breast pockets.
“There we go!” Jinn said proudly and looked at the startled girls apologetically. “I’m sorry ladies, they just don’t know the fine art of Japanese etiquette! C’mon gentlemen, we have an appointment to keep.”
With that, Jinn marched his group past the young women and into the office building which sat at the base of the brilliant orange and white tower. They walked across the tourist-filled foyer and Jinn stopped to check the large directory signs printed conveniently in Japanese, English and Chinese.
“Now, let me see,” Jinn looked up at the directory boards and immediately one of the lead men rushed forward to set a pair of round armless glasses on Jinn’s nose. “Thank you, Mr. Right.”
“First floor- nick-knacks. Have to remember that on the way out. Second floor- Japan’s largest indoor aquarium! Well, maybe next time. Third floor – wax museum. Never liked those things. Fourth floor- trick art gallery? Now there’s something you don’t see every day! Might just have to stop by and check that out. And, Fifth floor – television and radio broadcast centre. I do believe gentlemen,” Jinn grinned evilly. “That we have found what we’re looking for...”
* * *
“Gyah!”
Brad’s eyes bugged out and he clutched his face as pain like fire ripped through his head.
Theresa watched him, unimpressed.
“Toldja not to put in so much Wasabi,” she said coolly as she dipped her own piece of sushi in soy sauce and casually slipped it into her mouth. They had stopped in an Atom Boy sushi restaurant and were now perched on stools in front of the circular conveyor system that carried covered colour-coded plates of sushi past them and twenty or so other patrons.
Brad breathed deeply, tears running down his face as the pain slowly began to subside.
“My God…I can’t believe people like this.”
“The wasabi is an antibiotic, it kills any bugs that might be in the raw fish.”
“Thank you, Iron Chef.”
“Anytime,” Theresa picked up her mug of green tea and sipped it. “They don’t have this stuff in Windsor?”
“No, the closest we have is a small Chinatown.”
“Chinese food’s different.”
“Well, I know that! I’ve had Japanese food, just never sushi.”
“Once you have it, you’ll so want more. This stuff’s so addictive.”
“I don’t think so,” Brad looked down at the plates of sushi in front of him in distaste. “Raw fish just isn’t my thing…”
“You’ll see,” Theresa said knowingly.
“Yeah well, what do you wanna do after this?”
“I don’t know,” she said uncertainly. “I really should study. But…this is Tokyo! I can’t believe I’m actually in Tokyo!”
“I think you can spare another hour, don’t you?” Brad smiled at her.
“I officially declare this a study break!” She said as she hugged Brad. “Thank you D-Ranger!”
Across the conveyor ring, a young caucasian woman with long blonde-streaked brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses suddenly looked up in surprise…
* * *
“Kenji, I’ll call you back…”
Reiko Oyama slipped her cell phone into her pocket and sat up straight at her reception desk as the tall dark-skinned man and his companions came out of the elevator.
“Welcome to the NTT Broadcast Center,” she said in a high-pitched voice and practised smile. “How can I help you today?” She focussed on the odd looking man’s face, trying to ignore his lack of arms.
“Well Miss…Oyama, that’s how I read your name, right?” He said with a grin.
“Yes it is, sir. Your Japanese is very good.”
Jinn looked at the ceiling in feigned embarrassment. “Oh, you are too kind. It’s just something I picked up in my travels.” Then he looked back to her and leaned in, “so tell me Ms. Oyama. Where can I find the control room for your little outfit here?”
Reiko cocked her head. “Is Mr. Kenbitsu expecting you?”
“No. No,” Jinn shook his head. “This is a bit of a surprise visit.”
“Well, I am very sorry to tell you this honoured sir. But, visitors are not allowed in the control areas, this is not part of the tourist system. Unless you have business here, I am afraid you will not be allowed to go past this desk.”
“Oh, but we do have business here.” Jinn grinned. “We’re here about making Mr. Kenbitsu an offer he won’t be able to refuse.”
“I see,” said Reiko uncertainly as she picked up the phone next to her. “If that is the case, I will call him and see if he is available to meet with you…”
* * *
“So, where to now, m’lady?”
Theresa stretched her arms as they came out of the restaurant and looked at the modern buildings all around them. Brightly coloured banners she couldn’t read hung from almost every building, and advertising was everywhere. Cars honked, people talked on cell-phones and crosswalks chirped in a singsong sound to tell people to cross now while they still could. Noticing how bright the crosswalk signs were starting to seem, she realised the late afternoon light was starting to dim, which meant night would be coming.
“I want to see the city! I wanna see the lights!” She said, turning to face Brad.
“Well,” he thought. “Tokyo has a tower like Paris. Why don’t we go there?”
“You’re my favourite boyfriend, did I ever tell you that?”
“No,” he said as she looped her arm through his and they started to walk. “But, I better be your only boyfriend or you’re walking home…”
Behind them, a young foreigner wearing a long pale green trench coat with her arms laden down by shopping bags stepped from the restaurant they’d just come from. She watched them go, and her nose wrinkled as she frowned, then she started to slowly follow them through the crowd.
* * *
“Mr. Kenbitsu! Ken-chan! Good ta see ya!”
The ageing Japanese man raised a white eyebrow and looked at the grinning foreigner. “I do not believe we have met.”
“Ulysses Jinn, sir.” Jinn said as they stood talking in the lobby of the control section. “Pardon me if I don’t shake hands.”
“And, how may I help you Mr. Jinn?” Said the unsmiling man.
“Well,” Jinn said, ignoring the man’s lack of reaction to his joke. “I need access to your control room in oh, say…”
“38 minutes, 15 seconds.” Announced Mr. Left.
“Yes, 38 minutes or so.” Jinn smiled brightly. “It’s awfully important, and I was wondering if we could just pay you to let us use your system for a little while.”
“I am sorry, Mr. Jinn.” The old man replied without looking apologetic. “But, such requests must go through channels, Ms. Oyama will direct you to our business managers and they will make the appropriate arrangements. We may be able to help your request in a few weeks.”
“Oh,” Jinn’s smile faded. “I see. That is a shame, it really is. Well, I guess it can’t be helped. But, before you go, you’re the senior engineer here, right? You know the in’s and out’s of this place?”
“My father was here when this place came to life in 1958, and I have been here since 1972.”
Jinn nodded thoughtfully. “Quite the family history then. You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that. Gentlemen, it’s time to work.”
Briefcases clattered to the ground, and submachineguns were cocked.
“Now, Ken-chan.” Said Jinn in a friendly tone. “If you and your kind secretary don’t mind, we need to take a walk to your main control room. And, if you do anything I don’t like, I promise you both you shall die very very slowly.”
* * *
“Hold that elevator! Please!”
The uniformed Tokyo Tower elevator attendant obediently pressed the button, and Brad and Theresa watched as a woman a little older than themselves burdened down by shopping bags ran onto their elevator. She gasped for breath and handed her purple ticket to the attendant, and then stepped back to stand against the wall breathing heavily.
“Hello,” she smiled at Brad and Theresa slightly embarrassed. “Sorry about this.”
Dressed in a long pale green coat, she was pretty, with long light brown hair with blonde streaks and bright friendly blue eyes behind her thick-rimmed glasses. She had a light British accent when she spoke, and when she smiled there was a sense of sincere warmth in it.
“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Brad shook his head.
“Are you a tourist?” Theresa asked.
“Yes,” replied the woman holding up her bags. “Out doing some sightseeing and shopping. I’m Ana King.”
“Brad Ryans, this is my girlfriend Theresa Moore.”
“Nice to meet both of you. Are you Americans?”
“I’m American, he’s Canadian.” Theresa replied.
“Oh, really? I’m from Birmingham, England. I’ve never been to North America.”
“How long have you been in Tokyo, Ana?” Brad asked.
“A little while, I come here to shop when I can. It’s quite the shopper’s paradise, don’t you think?”
“Well, we haven’t really been here long enough to judge.” Theresa answered, looking at Brad. “We’re just kind’ve on a day-trip.”
“Oh!” Ana said excitedly. “Then you must let me give you the tour! I can tell you where all the best things are, and I know all the sales spots for you Theresa!”
“Well, I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, but sure.” Brad agreed. “Sounds good. We can all get to know each other.”
“Absolutely,” Ana replied as watched Brad. “I want to know all about you.”
http://www.geocities.com/rpatersonca/DRanger.html
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D-Ranger 7: The Lost Broadcast! Battle on Tokyo Tower!
By Robyn Paterson (rob_paterson@hotmail.com)
“So, I have a question?”
Brad looked up at his girlfriend Theresa from where he sat on the floor watching the TV perched on a nearby milk-carton in her residence room. She was studying at her desk, and he was just keeping her company with her exams coming up.
“Fifty-six,” he answered her.
She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. “I didn’t ask my question.”
“Oh fine,” he said pretending to be impatient. “Ask it then.”
Her eraser bounced off his head.
“Ow!”
“Serves you right.” She quipped. “So, what’s the difference between Endothermic and Exothermic?”
“Is that all? That’s so easy! I can’t believe you don’t know that!” He shook his head in mock disappointment.
Her green eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “So, Einstein. Enlighten me.”
“Sorry,” he said apologetically. “I can’t do that. If I do, you won’t learn it on your own.”
“Grrr,” she growled and went back to her books. “Never mind.”
“You hungry?” Brad asked.
“Yeah,” she leaned back. “I could so go for sushi right now. But, it’s like 3am.”
Brad got a mischievous look in his eyes.
“What?” She asked.
“Not in Japan.” He grinned.
* * *
“I so can’t believe you did this!” Theresa laughed, holding onto Brad’s arm as they walked down the late autumn streets of one of downtown Tokyo’s main thoroughfares. The streets were filled with the hustle and bustle of late afternoon as the office workers and salarymen flooded from their buildings onto the streets. Chestnut haired schoolgirls in short skirts walked arm-in-arm laughing and talking, their black suited male counterparts racing and jumping around them as they dashed through the crowd.
“Why not?” Brad grinned. “Not like the D-Corps don’t owe me something for all the crap I’ve had to go through.”
“You don’t get paid?” She looked shocked. “How are you living?”
“I used to have a job, but I lost it after I spent two weeks in a hospital in Eastern Europe.”
“So, now what do you do?”
“Employment insurance,” he winked. “Being Canadian is a wonderful thing. I figure it will get me by until this whole D-Ranger thing is done, and then I’ll figure something out.”
“I can’t believe they expect you to do all this for nothing.” She said unhappily as they stopped with the crowd at a crosswalk, then looked up at Brad when she realised he was looking at her and smiling.
“What?!?”
“I don’t do it for nothing,” he said thoughtfully as he looked forward and the crowd began to move again.
* * *
“Welcome to Tokyo Tower,” the blue and red uniformed girls announced as they bowed in unison.
“Thank you! Thank you ladies!” Ulysses Jinn grinned brightly and bowed back, making the two young ladies giggle and look at each other.
Jinn was a tall thin brown-skinned man with a long moon-shaped face and a pointed chin, he had jovial eyes and a wide white smile. He wore a striped purple business suit with a black vest and white shirt underneath, the sleeves of his shirt and business jacket tied and folded neatly at his side because he had no arms to fill them with.
“Gentlemen!” He announced to the two rows of suited men behind him. “Where’s your manners? Bow to the ladies!”
Behind Jinn a dozen large caucasian men clad in black suits carrying black leather briefcases bowed in unison, their mirrored sunglasses glinting in the afternoon light. They were all virtually identical, save for the lead one of each row, who had red handkerchiefs flowing neatly from their breast pockets.
“There we go!” Jinn said proudly and looked at the startled girls apologetically. “I’m sorry ladies, they just don’t know the fine art of Japanese etiquette! C’mon gentlemen, we have an appointment to keep.”
With that, Jinn marched his group past the young women and into the office building which sat at the base of the brilliant orange and white tower. They walked across the tourist-filled foyer and Jinn stopped to check the large directory signs printed conveniently in Japanese, English and Chinese.
“Now, let me see,” Jinn looked up at the directory boards and immediately one of the lead men rushed forward to set a pair of round armless glasses on Jinn’s nose. “Thank you, Mr. Right.”
“First floor- nick-knacks. Have to remember that on the way out. Second floor- Japan’s largest indoor aquarium! Well, maybe next time. Third floor – wax museum. Never liked those things. Fourth floor- trick art gallery? Now there’s something you don’t see every day! Might just have to stop by and check that out. And, Fifth floor – television and radio broadcast centre. I do believe gentlemen,” Jinn grinned evilly. “That we have found what we’re looking for...”
* * *
“Gyah!”
Brad’s eyes bugged out and he clutched his face as pain like fire ripped through his head.
Theresa watched him, unimpressed.
“Toldja not to put in so much Wasabi,” she said coolly as she dipped her own piece of sushi in soy sauce and casually slipped it into her mouth. They had stopped in an Atom Boy sushi restaurant and were now perched on stools in front of the circular conveyor system that carried covered colour-coded plates of sushi past them and twenty or so other patrons.
Brad breathed deeply, tears running down his face as the pain slowly began to subside.
“My God…I can’t believe people like this.”
“The wasabi is an antibiotic, it kills any bugs that might be in the raw fish.”
“Thank you, Iron Chef.”
“Anytime,” Theresa picked up her mug of green tea and sipped it. “They don’t have this stuff in Windsor?”
“No, the closest we have is a small Chinatown.”
“Chinese food’s different.”
“Well, I know that! I’ve had Japanese food, just never sushi.”
“Once you have it, you’ll so want more. This stuff’s so addictive.”
“I don’t think so,” Brad looked down at the plates of sushi in front of him in distaste. “Raw fish just isn’t my thing…”
“You’ll see,” Theresa said knowingly.
“Yeah well, what do you wanna do after this?”
“I don’t know,” she said uncertainly. “I really should study. But…this is Tokyo! I can’t believe I’m actually in Tokyo!”
“I think you can spare another hour, don’t you?” Brad smiled at her.
“I officially declare this a study break!” She said as she hugged Brad. “Thank you D-Ranger!”
Across the conveyor ring, a young caucasian woman with long blonde-streaked brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses suddenly looked up in surprise…
* * *
“Kenji, I’ll call you back…”
Reiko Oyama slipped her cell phone into her pocket and sat up straight at her reception desk as the tall dark-skinned man and his companions came out of the elevator.
“Welcome to the NTT Broadcast Center,” she said in a high-pitched voice and practised smile. “How can I help you today?” She focussed on the odd looking man’s face, trying to ignore his lack of arms.
“Well Miss…Oyama, that’s how I read your name, right?” He said with a grin.
“Yes it is, sir. Your Japanese is very good.”
Jinn looked at the ceiling in feigned embarrassment. “Oh, you are too kind. It’s just something I picked up in my travels.” Then he looked back to her and leaned in, “so tell me Ms. Oyama. Where can I find the control room for your little outfit here?”
Reiko cocked her head. “Is Mr. Kenbitsu expecting you?”
“No. No,” Jinn shook his head. “This is a bit of a surprise visit.”
“Well, I am very sorry to tell you this honoured sir. But, visitors are not allowed in the control areas, this is not part of the tourist system. Unless you have business here, I am afraid you will not be allowed to go past this desk.”
“Oh, but we do have business here.” Jinn grinned. “We’re here about making Mr. Kenbitsu an offer he won’t be able to refuse.”
“I see,” said Reiko uncertainly as she picked up the phone next to her. “If that is the case, I will call him and see if he is available to meet with you…”
* * *
“So, where to now, m’lady?”
Theresa stretched her arms as they came out of the restaurant and looked at the modern buildings all around them. Brightly coloured banners she couldn’t read hung from almost every building, and advertising was everywhere. Cars honked, people talked on cell-phones and crosswalks chirped in a singsong sound to tell people to cross now while they still could. Noticing how bright the crosswalk signs were starting to seem, she realised the late afternoon light was starting to dim, which meant night would be coming.
“I want to see the city! I wanna see the lights!” She said, turning to face Brad.
“Well,” he thought. “Tokyo has a tower like Paris. Why don’t we go there?”
“You’re my favourite boyfriend, did I ever tell you that?”
“No,” he said as she looped her arm through his and they started to walk. “But, I better be your only boyfriend or you’re walking home…”
Behind them, a young foreigner wearing a long pale green trench coat with her arms laden down by shopping bags stepped from the restaurant they’d just come from. She watched them go, and her nose wrinkled as she frowned, then she started to slowly follow them through the crowd.
* * *
“Mr. Kenbitsu! Ken-chan! Good ta see ya!”
The ageing Japanese man raised a white eyebrow and looked at the grinning foreigner. “I do not believe we have met.”
“Ulysses Jinn, sir.” Jinn said as they stood talking in the lobby of the control section. “Pardon me if I don’t shake hands.”
“And, how may I help you Mr. Jinn?” Said the unsmiling man.
“Well,” Jinn said, ignoring the man’s lack of reaction to his joke. “I need access to your control room in oh, say…”
“38 minutes, 15 seconds.” Announced Mr. Left.
“Yes, 38 minutes or so.” Jinn smiled brightly. “It’s awfully important, and I was wondering if we could just pay you to let us use your system for a little while.”
“I am sorry, Mr. Jinn.” The old man replied without looking apologetic. “But, such requests must go through channels, Ms. Oyama will direct you to our business managers and they will make the appropriate arrangements. We may be able to help your request in a few weeks.”
“Oh,” Jinn’s smile faded. “I see. That is a shame, it really is. Well, I guess it can’t be helped. But, before you go, you’re the senior engineer here, right? You know the in’s and out’s of this place?”
“My father was here when this place came to life in 1958, and I have been here since 1972.”
Jinn nodded thoughtfully. “Quite the family history then. You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that. Gentlemen, it’s time to work.”
Briefcases clattered to the ground, and submachineguns were cocked.
“Now, Ken-chan.” Said Jinn in a friendly tone. “If you and your kind secretary don’t mind, we need to take a walk to your main control room. And, if you do anything I don’t like, I promise you both you shall die very very slowly.”
* * *
“Hold that elevator! Please!”
The uniformed Tokyo Tower elevator attendant obediently pressed the button, and Brad and Theresa watched as a woman a little older than themselves burdened down by shopping bags ran onto their elevator. She gasped for breath and handed her purple ticket to the attendant, and then stepped back to stand against the wall breathing heavily.
“Hello,” she smiled at Brad and Theresa slightly embarrassed. “Sorry about this.”
Dressed in a long pale green coat, she was pretty, with long light brown hair with blonde streaks and bright friendly blue eyes behind her thick-rimmed glasses. She had a light British accent when she spoke, and when she smiled there was a sense of sincere warmth in it.
“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Brad shook his head.
“Are you a tourist?” Theresa asked.
“Yes,” replied the woman holding up her bags. “Out doing some sightseeing and shopping. I’m Ana King.”
“Brad Ryans, this is my girlfriend Theresa Moore.”
“Nice to meet both of you. Are you Americans?”
“I’m American, he’s Canadian.” Theresa replied.
“Oh, really? I’m from Birmingham, England. I’ve never been to North America.”
“How long have you been in Tokyo, Ana?” Brad asked.
“A little while, I come here to shop when I can. It’s quite the shopper’s paradise, don’t you think?”
“Well, we haven’t really been here long enough to judge.” Theresa answered, looking at Brad. “We’re just kind’ve on a day-trip.”
“Oh!” Ana said excitedly. “Then you must let me give you the tour! I can tell you where all the best things are, and I know all the sales spots for you Theresa!”
“Well, I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, but sure.” Brad agreed. “Sounds good. We can all get to know each other.”
“Absolutely,” Ana replied as watched Brad. “I want to know all about you.”