Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Change! Getter ½ ❯ Our story begins ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Change! Getter ½


A crazy idea by Lord Raa.


Disclaim-me-do: I suffered a lot of head trauma when I was a child.


**********


"Blergen" = Japanese.

"{Quartz}" = Chinese or other Foreign language.

[Yedden] = Panda sign or other written note.

'I wonder if poking this bear with a stick is a bad idea' = thoughts.

*BLAMMO* = Sound effects.


**********


The Chinese military tracked an incoming meteorite in its airspace.

"{Looks like that meteorite is going to hit in the middle of nowhere.}"

"{I'm glad. It came in too fast for us to warn the general and get the
evacuation signal issued to either Shanghai or Beijing.}"

"{I'll let the press officer know.}"


**********


In a certain mountain range, a guide noticed an object streaking towards the
nearby springs.

"{This could be bad if the water gets splashed everywhere.}"

The Jusenkyo guide rushed back inside to make sure his daughter was safely
away from any chance of being splashed by the accursed local waters.

*SPLASH*

The next day, two traveling Japanese martial artists arrived, but like many
visitors to the pools of sorrow, they left cursed.


*********


A little later the two cursed martial artists were visiting their would-be
in-laws. As fate would have it, a sweet young girl protested at being
engaged to Ranma, complaining that he was a pervert.

Now Ranma Saotome has many flaws. He's socially inept; has the table manners
of a ravenous goat; is somewhat uninterested in anything other then martial
arts or food and often speaks without thinking.

But he was not a pervert.

"Whaddya mean, 'pervert'?"

"You turn into a girl, how is that not perverted? You probably do things to
that body at night," Akane Tendo, heir to the Tendo school of Anything Goes,
was getting angry with this upstart boy.

"Fine," Ranma turned to leave the Tendos. "If that's how you all feel about
me, then I'll be off to find a cure. Pops, I guess I'll see you in Hell."

The Tendos all sat in a stunned silence, as Ranma effectively disowned his
father in front of strangers.


**********


Walking off at a hurried pace, Ranma noticed a grey haired man being hassled
by three young punks.

"Just what I need to vent some frustration."

One quick punch up later, and Ranma was asking about the condition of the
man.

"I'm fine, young lady."

"Wait, aren't you professor Saotome?" Ranma asked as she studied the face of
the older man.

"Yes. Who are you, miss?"

"I'm Ranma!" The look on Ranma's face gave no room for doubt. "Ranma
Saotome!"

"I don't think so. Ranma Saotome is a boy." Takeshi Saotome was curious as
why this girl thought that she was his nephew

Ranma's features turned dark as she remembered the stupidity of her father.
"It's a magical curse. Cold water turns me into a girl, hot water turns me
back into a guy."

"Really?"

Ranma nodded vigorously. "Just get me some hot water, I'll show you."

The Professor offered Ranma a hot can of coffee from a nearby vending
machine. "It's not clean, but it should be hot enough."

When Ranma changed back into his male body, Takeshi smiled; it was a new
mystery to solve. "I'd like to investigate it at some point, if you don't
mind."

"You ain't gonna cut me up are ya?" Ranma moved into a defensive posture.

"No, Ranma. I was thinking more of measuring the variables about changes.
Besides, with advanced enough technology, you can give the appearance of
magic."

"Like what?"

"Like television or flight. Do you have a place to stay?" Takeshi had grown
attached to Ranma during his last visit five years ago. His own life of a
career scientist didn't exactly attract ladies, so he made up for it by
doting on his relatives when he saw them.

"No." Ranma answered. Living rough was not something Ranma was unfamiliar
with.

"So, where's your father?"

Ranma's expression turn serious. "He's at his friends. He tried to get me to
marry some tomboy so I can take over this dojo."

Professor Saotome led Ranma to the station to get him away from Nerima when
he heard that Genma was in town. "I think that we'll keep away from your
father."

"You never did like him, did you?"

"I have managed to deal with my anger towards my brother." The professor
took a few calming breaths. "I'm sure that you realised why I don't help him
out more often."

Ranma just nodded.


**********


The next day, Takeshi introduced Ranma to his colleagues at the lab.
"Everybody, I would like you all to meet my nephew, Ranma Saotome."

Ranma bowed to the assembled staff. "I'm pleased to meet you."

"Now Ranma has a "condition". Ranma, if you please."

Ranma nodded and poured a beaker of cold water over his head.

The scientists turned to professor Saotome for answers. "I have yet to come
up with a reason for this change. I want to investigate it thoroughly, and
will do so when I get the chance. Ranma is under my care and you will treat
him with the utmost respect, anybody who tries anything funny will regret
it."

"What do you mean?" a man who needed a cane to assist his walking asked.

"I've been training in martial arts since I was five. I can bench press over
100 kilos in this body. 200 in my guy form," Ranma replied with full
confidence in his abilities.

Professor Saotome thought about how best to help Ranma. "Ranma will be
tutored here."

"Ok, I guess."

"Ranma, your education will be science orientated. I remember how you were
Interested in learning how to increase your time in the air."

Ranma nodded. The whole idea of flight had always appealed to him. The
freedom it offered, how it allowed for distances to be covered quickly and
the vantage points it could give you.

"I think that you have the practical side of it down, perhaps if we showed
you the theory and how and why you jump the way you do, we can increase your
hang time."


**********


Over the next six months, Ranma had been tutored by the staff at the lab and
had been given a job on his latest phase of his uncle's project, a clean and
safe energy source that could be placed in highly mobile unit. Ranma was
engrossed in monitoring a shielding experiment when he was called away to
the office.

"Ranma, there's someone here to see you."

"Who is it, uncle Takeshi?" Ranma hoped that it wasn't his father.

"Hello Ranma," a female voice greeted him.

"And you are?"

"Your mother. Don't tell me that you've forgotten me."

Ranma gave the woman a skeptical look. "Really? And why should I believe
you?"

Nodoka, not expecting suspicion from her only son, was taken aback. "I have
this photograph of you when you were a child."

Ranma took the offered image. Looking at it, his face softened. "I thought
you were dead."

Nodoka stepped forward and hugged her son. "I'm sorry about that. It was
necessary for you training."

'Torture is more like it,' professor Saotome thought angrily. "Ranma, I took
the liberty of finding her for you. I thought that you would like to see
her."

"Yes!" Ranma exclaimed. "Mom, I am so glad to see you. Did you know that six
months ago, pops tried to get me engaged to some girl I'd never seen
before?"

Nodoka held her son at arms length to get a good look at him. "So? Any girl
would love a fiancé as handsome as you."

Ranma winced. "Yeah, about that. Her sisters decided that she was the best
choice for me. There's something I need to tell you…"


**********


A little later, Nodoka had recovered from her fainting spell and sat up.

"Did you really change into a girl when splashed with cold water?"

Ranma nodded.

"That's not very manly," Nodoka commented.

"What do you mean?" Ranma was confused by the few subtle references to
manliness that his mother had dropped throughout her visit.

"Your father promised that you'd be a man among men or you'd both commit
seppuku. Here," Nodoka showed Ranma the death contract.

"You have got to be kidding me!" professor Saotome shouted at his
sister-in-law. "That's a finger painting not a signature!"

"You, you hated me that much?" Ranma's voice was on the verge of breaking.

"No! I just wanted to be proud of my son. Please understand that this was
not my idea. I only agreed so that Genma would keep out of trouble," Nodoka
herself was beginning to shed tears.

Ranma, being one of those types that hate seeing a female cry, moved into to
comfort her. "I'm sorry I let you down Mom. Pops is probably still at the
Tendo dojo, if you want to go through with this."

"What do you mean probably? Where is your father?" Nodoka looked at her
son's eyes.

"I left pops six months ago. I wanted nothing to do with him after that
engagement fiasco. I told him, 'I guess I'll see you in Hell'. I never
looked back." The whole "disown Genma" thing nonplussed Ranma. Of course his
uncle had told him stories that reinforced the notion that it was a good
idea.

Nodoka thought about Ranma's words and actions. 'He gave up on his father as
if he were nothing, but you could say that he was just taking charge of his
own destiny. He didn't try to hide or lie to me about his condition and was
willing to go through with the pledge.' "I think that it would be best if we
didn't come to a snap judgment about this. Are there any girls that you
like?"

Ranma snorted in amusement. "The last four girls I met all hated my guts.
Two were violent maniacs, the other two tried to force me into an engagement
with one."

"Oh. Perhaps we should find you a nice girl and take it slowly," Nodoka
suggested. She, like Takeshi, was lonely and planned to dote on her
grandchildren.

"That would be best, No-chan. Besides, Ranma here has helped me immensely in
my research. Without Ranma's help, we'd still be in the planning stage for
the reactor." The professor spoke proudly of his nephew. "Which reminds me,
Ranma don't you have to check up on the shielding test?"

"Aargh! I forgot! I'll see you in a bit mom, ok?"

Nodoka nodded.

As soon as Ranma was out of earshot, Takeshi turned to Nodoka. "What were
you thinking with that damn contract? Are you and Genma trying to kill my
nephew?"

Nodoka sat in silence at the unexpected attack.

"Look, I'm sorry, No-chan. It's just that Ranma has been through a lot. I
want him to be happy, but I get the feeling that several people are out for
his blood."


**********


Elsewhere, a bandana clad wanderer sneezed at the wrong moment, causing a
purple haired Amazon to attack, thinking it was her prey. She,
unfortunately, sneezed herself and was subsequently defeated in battle.

This lead to Ryoga being forced to do all sorts of things that, if detailed
here, would make this story illegal in certain territories.


**********


"Just why did it take you six months to find me?" Nodoka decided that she
wouldn't give her brother-in-law a free ride in this argument.

"Hey, I was busy in my work! I could have just as easily not bothered with
calling you. In fact with this talk of him killing himself, I think I should
have," Takeshi shot back.

An intern rushed into the break room where the "respectable" Saotomes were
talking. "Professor Saotome!"

"What is it?"

"There's been a terrible accident in the lab!"

"What happened?" professor Saotome leapt from his seat.

"It's your nephew, Ranma."

"My goodness," Nodoka followed the scientists to her son.

In the lab, Ranma lay on the floor, covered in debris.

"Ranma!"

The professor was answered with a groan.

"Are you all right, son?" Nodoka looked over her son.

Ranma blinked at the light being shined into his eyes. "To the person
shining that light in my eyes, keep that up and I'll shove it somewhere
where the sun don't shine and the birds don't sing."

Professor Saotome chuckled at his nephew's attitude. "Let's get you cleaned
up."

Ranma slowly rose to his feet. "Whoa, I feel a bit weird."

Splashing cold water on his face, it took a minute for him to realise that
he was still a he. "What's going on here?"

The assistant answered. "It looks like the Getter generator overloaded. You
were subjected to a massive dose of Getter radiation."

"Why didn't I change into a girl?"

"Because I think that there is a link between Jusenkyo and the shape
changing properties of Getter rays. I have yet to formalise the theory for
people to look at."

"Uncle Takeshi, am I gonna die?" Ranma asked. He had no problem with dieing,
but he'd just been reunited with his mother.

"I don't know, Ranma, I don't know. Let's get you to the infirmary, I want
the MDs to check you out." Professor Saotome seemed to show more concern for
Ranma than Genma ever did.


**********


As the doctor finished her examination, she turned to the men in lab coats.
"Gentlemen, Mrs Saotome, Ranma seems to be in extremely good health, but I
need to run some tests on the blood sample. I recommend that he takes it
easy for a few days."

"Well, I guess that this would be an excellent opportunity for you to get to
know each other better. No-chan do you have room for Ranma and myself?"

"Yes, of course." Nodoka turned to the experts. "This radiation, it hasn't,
you know, damaged Ranma has it?"

When she gestured to her lap area, the doctor realised what she meant. "We
honestly don't know, Mrs Saotome. We would need to run an exhaustive series
of tests on Ranma in order to determine any effect. Even then, we wouldn't
know if it was lasting."

"I see. Well, grab your things Ranma, Takeshi. We'll be leaving for home."


**********


The professor was impressed by the décor of his temporary accommodations.
"No-chan, I'd forgotten how nice your home was."

Ranma was too exhausted to care about anything other then sleep. "Mom, where
do I sleep?"

Nodoka frowned at Ranma's lack of remembrance about his family home's
layout. "First of all, you two will go into the kitchen, sit down and eat
the food I put in front of you. When I return, I'll show you to your rooms."

When Ranma saw his uncle's face light up at the mention of Nodoka's food,
Ranma stood up straight and saluted. "Yes, mom."

Nodoka smiled at Ranma's playful attitude. 'Yes, just like his father when
it comes to food.'


**********


That night, Ranma was in agony. His stomach was running laps around the
inside of his abdomen. When he moved to try to lessen the discomfort, his
head swam and started to pound giving him the urge to vomit.

Some urges are irresistible.

"BLEEARGH!"

Some are a right swine to clean up as well.

Ranma lay unconscious in the recovery position, not looking in the best of
shape. When the morning wake up call arrived, Nodoka saw the state Ranma was
in. "Ranma!"

When Ranma didn't answer his mother, Takeshi was called to the scene. "This
is not good, I'll call for an ambulance."


**********


Ranma finally woke up some eight hours later in hospital attached to an IV.

"Ranma, you're awake! We were so worried about you," Nodoka fussed over her
offspring.

"I'm ok, Mom. I've had worse," Ranma acted in his usual macho manner.

"Really? When was the last time you were subjected to a massive amount of
radiation?" Nodoka asked skeptically.

"Er, well, what I meant was I'd put up with greater hardships," Ranma was a
still a little uncomfortable around his mother.

"Ranma, I know you that you think I'm out to get you, but I only want what's
best for you." Nodoka moved in to hug Ranma.

A doctor walked in to the room. "Hello I'm doctor Kawamitsu, I have the test
results for Ranma. He appears to be in perfect health."

"That's what the doctor at the lab said yesterday, and Ranma was unconscious
this morning," Nodoka's opinion of doctors was not particularly high at the
moment.

"Oh, they did?" the doctor was puzzled. "I think I'd better take another
blood sample, just to be sure."

When Nodoka moved out of the way, she knocked a glass of water onto Ranma,
activating his curse.

"Damn, I thought I was cured," the disappointment was as clear as day in
Ranma's voice.

"How did that happen? Why is your son now a girl?"

Nodoka turned to doctor Kawamitsu, "apparently it's a curse my son picked up
in China. I don't know the mechanics of it myself, but my brother-in-law is
investigating it."

"Who is your brother-in-law?"

"Professor Takeshi Saotome," a voice from the doorway called out.

"Ah, I take it you are professor Saotome?"

"Yes. Take your blood sample, I want to see if the radiation has altered his
DNA, in either form."


**********


As the MD and the PhD looked compared Ranma's DNA, they saw that certain
factors that had been thought switched off had been reactivated in the
accident. It looked like Ranma would be experiencing some changes soon, in
both bodies.

"What was that radiation Ranma was doused with? It's not like the effects of
any radiation I've ever seen before," doctor Kawamitsu asked.

"It's complicated. This doesn't leave this room, ok?"

When Kawamitsu gave his agreement, the professor continued. "We discovered a
new type of radiation. Its properties changed our view of the world
completely. The main thing you need to know is this: it can change the
physical properties of certain materials, i.e. make them more malleable with
out the addition of heat."

"And you think this property is what makes Ranma turn into a girl?"

"Yes. We still have no idea how it changes him, or why he turns into a girl.
Apparently his father has a similar condition, he turns into a panda."

"Ah. So, professor, why does this need to be classified?"

"We don't know much about the origin of the Getter rays. I've requested
information on the area Ranma went to in China, but it looks like the
Chinese are keeping this secret particularly well. Besides, what do you
think it would do to the world's economy if there was a new cheap, clean
energy source available?"

"I see," Kawamitsu nodded in understanding.

"Don't worry about Ranma, I will be keeping an eye on him. I don't have much
in the way of family, just Ranma and his parents."

"That reminds me, where is his father?"

"Again, it's complicated," Takeshi was a bit vague.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"It's ok, I never got on with my brother."


**********


Genma was beginning to really hate his "worthless" son. Six months earlier
he had discarded his duties and stamped on his family's honour by abandoning
his fiancée. He'd trained Ranma to be dependant on others just so this
marriage to work.

But Nabiki Tendo had pointed out that without an heir for the Saotome
school, there was no point in allowing Genma to stay indefinitely. That
middle daughter as going to be trouble, he could feel it in his bones.

So in order to keep himself fed and housed, he'd agreed to train his best
friend's daughter so she could take over the dojo.

That decision was one he was beginning to regret. Akane certainly had a
passion for the art, but she lacked the sponge-like ability to absorb
techniques that Ranma had.

It didn't help that in his panda form, he had more grace than her or her
father was handicapping her with his overprotective behaviour.

When Soun had found out that Genma planned to start the morning sparring
sessions with a quick dunk in the pond, he went into his "demon head"
attack. It took him half the day to calm Tendo down.

Kasumi, the eldest, was just as against throwing a bucket of water over
Akane to start the day, claiming that it was too much trouble to clean up
every day. Of course, she was one of those people that didn't raise their
voice or get violent when they wanted to express their displeasure.

His stomach still hurt when he thought about that time Kasumi let Akane cook
dinner after he shed hair all over the house.

"Worthless boy," he grumbled as he lay down to sleep.


**********


The next morning, Genma was surprised to receive a letter.

'Dear Genma,

I hope all is well with you and Ranma. Did your trip to China go as well as
you planned? I ask because it has been a while since you last wrote to me
and I do miss both of you. I realise that your task is a difficult one, and
so I can understand if your return to me will be delayed.

Please write to me with a response with your new estimated date of return or
enclose a recent photograph of our son so that I can gauge how much work
needs to be done.

Your loving wife,

Nodoka'

'Uh-oh, this is going to be bad if Nodoka finds out about the boy.'

"Is something the matter, old friend?"

"No, just a letter from an old acquaintance," Genma decided to economise
with the truth.

"I hear from Nabiki that Akane's challenges at school are being taken care
of even more quickly now you've taken up her training. Soon, she'll be able
to take over the dojo. You must be proud," Soun casually spoke from behind
his paper.

What Genma really wanted to say was 'it's too little too late, but you won't
let me put her through an extensive course,' but of course he was
weak-willed and too lazy to find other accommodation. "Well, I can't take
all the credit Tendo, you started her out with the basics."

The Tendo patriarch smiled. "Care for a game of go?"

"Always."


**********


At the same time, the Hubble telescope picked up a strange object heading
towards the moon.

"{That's odd.}"

"{What's odd?}"

"{This. It looks set to pass by, but something seems wrong.}"

"{In what way?}"

"{The way light reflected off it. It's as if it was made of manufactured
metal, not unrefined ores.}"

"{Hmm, best keep an eye out for that one. You want to tell the boss, or
should I?}"

"{I'll do it, I need to take a porcelain cruise.}"


**********


To be continued.


Well here is the first chapter of Change! Getter ½, I do hope that I have
rewarded your interest in the teaser I posted.

Thanks go out to Chi Vayne for pre-reading this "thing".


Author's notage:


The reason why Ranma agreed to work with his uncle so quickly is because
they spent some time together a few years earlier. As one of the few family
members to treat Ranma nicely, he garnered some respect.

Professor Saotome is the typical scientist in this timeline, he was too
excited with the whole Getter project to think of phoning Nodoka to tell her
about her son at first. He knows that the military potential of the project
is what keeps it so well funded, Ranma does not.

Yes, Nodoka is playing with Genma.

The changes should be revealed next chapter, along with the challenge for
this Ranma.

The match-up has not yet been planned, nor have any additional crossover
elements finalised. Suggestions are most welcome.

No, there will not be canon Ranma/Akane pairing. The reason for this is
simple, I find that pairing uninteresting. Anyone who reads the manga can
see that Ranma cares for Akane the most and would choose her if
circumstances were different (no-one forcing them together and Akane showing
some trust and affection are two examples). If I want a canon match-up, I
can read the original series.

If you know the "official" first name of professor Saotome, please drop me
line. I'll give credit and pre-reading status. If you want it, that is.

Comments and criticism are welcome.

Flames should be well constructed and amusing. Failure to do so will result
in a serious mocking and/or shunning of opinions.

Email addresses are:

(lordraa)@ (digitalpimp) (.co.uk) or (lordraa) @ (hotmail) (.com)

Until the next time,

Laterer folks.