New Return of Jetman Episode 2

NEW RETURN OF JETMAN

"Future Shock"
(Episode 2)
by Christopher Elam
(based on the work of Lewis Smith)
© 2005 Christopher Elam

 

Skyforce Supreme Commander Ryu Tendo sat at his desk, reading the hastily-compiled report in disbelief. In all of his years, he had never been faced with a situation quite like the one that had just been thrown into his lap. Not even his time as the leader of the first incarnation of Jetman could have adequately prepared him for the crisis at hand.

He took a look at his watch as he sipped from his glass of hot milk. It was almost time for the special appointment he'd made. While all the personnel on Earthship 2 had been placed on full alert, he knew Skyforce couldn't handle the emergency on their own. The organization had fallen on lean times, and he estimated they were only at half the strength they had been in their heyday. That wasn't going to be enough, so he had made the decision to contact those that might offer their assistance.

"Commander, we're receiving a signal from the Ginga Patrol's sector captain," a male voice reported through Tendo's desk speaker.

"Very good, Ensign Inoue," Tendo replied. "Have our engineers patch the signal through to my personal monitor."

Ryu Tendo swiveled his chair around to face the monitor screen and was immediately surprised by the image that flickered onto it. He hadn't known quite what to expect an alien officer to look like, but he hadn't anticipated it being a young woman who didn't look a day over 21.

"Ginga Patrol Captain Annie here," the woman said. "The Patrol has received your urgent request for aid, Commander, and...is there something wrong, Commander?"

Ryu was chagrined that his shock was so obvious. "I'm sorry, Captain. I suppose I hadn't realized you'd be so young."

"Please don't let my appearance deceive you," Captain Annie responded. "I age at a different rate than the people of Earth. I assure you, I have over 40 of your Earth years in experience with the Ginga Patrol."

Ryu gave a short, contrite bow. "Forgive my presumption, Captain."

"No apologies necessary," Captain Annie assured. "I spent some time stationed on your world, so I'm well aware of Earth culture. That was why I was bit amazed to receive a request for assistance. Earth has always prided itself on taking care of its own affairs."

"I know," Ryu said, "but I don't know where else to turn right now. Our super sentai was completely wiped out by this new menace and Skyforce is operating at reduced strength. There's no way we could match its power."

"A super sentai - wiped out?" Captain Annie gasped in horror. "I wish...I wish there was some way we could help you."

"You mean you won't help us?" Ryu questioned in desperation.

"No Commander, I mean I can't help you," Captain Annie answered. "The Ginga Patrol's computers detected a massive distortion of reality on your world hours ago. When it occurred, a force field was erected around Earth space. Nothing can enter or leave the immediate vicinity of your planet - certainly nothing at our disposal."

"So there's nothing the Ginga Patrol can do?" Ryu said, his hope fading fast.

"We're working on a solution to bringing down the field," Captain Annie stated with a confidence that belied the dire situation, "but it may take time. I also have a squadron of space sheriffs on standby should we find a way to break through."

"In the meantime, we're on our own."

"I'm afraid so, Commander," Captain Annie affirmed. "All I can do right now is wish good luck to you and your forces."

"Thank you, Captain," Ryu offered, though he was so dispirited that he could barely manage to get the words out.

As the monitor screen went blank, Ryu Tendo rubbed his temples. He whirled his chair around and gulped down the last of his hot milk before flicking a switch on his desk speaker.

"May I help you, Commander?" Ensign Inoue's voice inquired.

"Yes," Ryu answered firmly. "Please send word to the Skyforce Supreme Council that I will be meeting with them as soon as I return to Earth."

"Uh, sir?" Inoue said. "Shouldn't that be that you're requesting a meeting?"

"No, Ensign. I will be meeting with them."

Ryu Tendo turned off his speaker as he stood up and smoothed out his uniform. He collected the report on the Nemesis situation as he headed for the door. The Supreme Council was going to listen to him this time, and they were going to give him what he wanted. If they didn't, the responsibility for the resulting disaster would be on their heads.

***

The floor of the sumptuous Hawaii Convention Center was a sea of humanity as hundreds of people wandered about in excitement. The occasion was Honolulu's first-ever Tiger Burai convention, celebrating the Japanese superhero program that had proven to be the sensation of the Hawaiian islands. Right in the middle of the action was a group of four people who were inevitably the center of attention wherever they went - Tiger Burai's creator Gohan Oishi, his wife Reiko Hayasaka, reporter Michiru Oshima, and convention organizer/translator Mike Minami.

"...And that's why I introduced Turbo Burai last year," Gohan concluded, finishing off an explanation that had started 10 minutes earlier. "Man, this whole con is something else! I never would've thought Tiger Burai would get so popular in America!"

"Ah, well, it was my idea to bring the series to Hawaii in the first place," Mike Minami bragged, "so it does my heart good to hear you're impressed with my convention. How about the rest of you?"

Reiko looked around, not really paying attention. "Oh, well, it's really...something."

"Well, I'm enjoying Hawaii, that's for sure," Michiru said as she snapped a few photos of the convention-goers. "The only downside is that people see my name tag and they want me to autograph Godzilla CDs. Why is that?"

Gohan chuckled knowingly. "Oshima-san, it's a loooong story. You see..."

"Glad to hear it!" Minami interrupted, only listening for things that massaged his ego. "I'm hoping that your story will raise my profile in Japan so I'll be able to achieve bigger and better things!"

Minami turned to Gohan. "Tell me, how goes the next TV series?"

"Pretty well," Gohan said as he nodded thoughtfully. "Between the Cobra Burai and Burai Eclipse manga, they should have plenty of material when they decide to start filming a new series."

"Excellent!" Minami exclaimed. "And will Ms. Hayasaka be doing the theme again?"

"What?" Reiko answered, shaking the cobwebs from her head. "Oh, uh, I don't know yet. My music career is in a self-imposed lull right now. Maybe..."

"I hope so!" Minami interjected again. "You gave such power to the Tiger Burai theme! When I hear it, it makes me think of justice!"

Michiru leaned over to Reiko. "Are you OK?" she whispered. "You haven't been yourself the whole time we've been here."

"Really?" Reiko whispered back, careful that their male companions did not hear. "I guess the jet lag really threw me for a loop."

Just then, a man dressed in a Tiger Burai costume ran up to the group. "MIKE!" he shouted, waving his Actual Prop Tiger Staff around. "Finally found you! The stage show is in 20 minutes and I want you to be there when I kick Dorado's butt!"

"Sure thing, man," Minami said as he pushed the faux Tiger Burai away. "Now I think you need to get ready for your fight scene."

As the man trotted away, he practiced his henshin posing while affecting a poor Japanese accent and shouting "Tiger Omega!" Minami rolled his eyes while the rest of the group just stared.

"That's Butch," he explained. "Butch is my friend - well, more like a yes man. I hired him to cosplay Tiger Burai at the con to keep him out of my hair."

Gohan shook his head in disbelief. "I thought I was enthusiastic."

"Forget him!" Minami exclaimed as he put an arm around Gohan's shoulder. "Let's talk about how you're liking Hawaii!"

"Oh, it's great!" Gohan complimented. "Dr. Komyoji had told me how much he'd enjoyed Hawaii, but I had no idea it would be like this!"

"Komyoji?" Minami asked. "Who?"

Reiko raised an eyebrow. "You said you were an expert on our careers. How can you not know who Dr. Komyoji is?"

"Pfft, little details," Minami dismissed, much to the consternation of his guests.

Gohan felt more than a little awkward. "Gee Mike, I..."

"Later, later!" Minami broke in, not noticing Reiko's icy gaze. "Let's enjoy the rest of the show! Afterward, I'll show you all how to write your names in Egyptian hieroglyphics!"

As the group made their way through the crowd, all Reiko could think was that she hoped the torture would be over soon.

***

Thousands of kilometers above the Earth's surface, a rocketship plowed through the depths of space. With its oddly retro art deco design, the rocket managed to pull off the curious trick of looking both futuristic and quaint simultaneously. That description was equally appropriate for its captain, as he was a man who came from a reality very different from the one he now occupied.

"Nemesis' shield seems to be holding," Dirk Dixon observed as he watched a brilliantly shining speck on his View-O-Scope suddenly vanish when it reached the limit of the force field surrounding the Earth. "By Jove, that man is a genius!"

"Shall we return to Earth?" one of the silvery, hat-wearing robots piloting the rocket inquired mechanically.

"Yes, soon, Clunk-O-Tron #2," Dixon replied. "First, I want to try an experiment. Now that we are beyond Earth's atmosphere, use the space radio to attempt communication with the Allied Solar System headquarters on Uranus."

The boxy robot did as it was told. "Uranus doesn't answer, sir."

Dirk punched a fist into his hand. "Caesar's Ghost! Those devils in the Mongol Empire have probably overrun Uranus already!"

"Perhaps Uranus is uninhabited in this universe?" Clunk-O-Tron #1 helpfully pointed out.

"No, that's not what Nemesis told me!" Dixon countered. "He said that the Mongols had extended their sphere of influence throughout the solar system here! That's why he recruited me for his Paradox Army - because no one is better at halting that peril than Dirk Dixon, The Man of Tomorrow!"

Clunk-O-Tron #2 leaned over to his robotic co-pilot. "Should we tell him Nemesis killed him and only resurrected him as a puppet in a larger scheme?" he quietly intoned.

"Useless," Clunk-O-Tron #1 answered. "He was delusional even when he was still alive in our old universe."

"Clunk-O-Trons!" Dirk Dixon commanded authoritatively as he returned his attention to the View-O-Scope. "Return us to Earth and our original destination of the islands of Hi-Y-E. There we can take on these Mongol dogs and make the world safe for Mom, apple pie, and the 48 states!"

***

Ken Tendo looked passively out the window of the passenger plane that was carrying him to Hawaii. It was hard to comprehend everything that had happened in the previous 24 hours. He had anticipated being in bed by this time, not jetting off to seek out his old teammates Gohan and Reiko. But then, he hadn't counted on a menace rising up that wanted Jetman above all else.

"May I help you, sir?" a flight attendant asked as she noticed the faraway look in Ken's eyes.

Ken snapped back to reality. "No, no thank you. Just lost in thought, I suppose."

As the young woman moved on to other passengers, Ken remembered why he so rarely flew commercial. Without the need to focus, he was easily distracted. Of course, Shinsei had suggested catching the late night flight for that very reason. The downtime, he had said, might give Ken a chance to recover.

"Or time to brood," Ken mumbled to himself as he pulled out a snapshot of himself with Mika Katsuragi. The young woman had convinced some Skywatch tourists to use her camera to take pictures of her with Ken. In the one she had given him, she was grinning ear to ear as she clung to him.

In spite of himself, Ken smiled a little at the thought of Mika. She had been so innocent, almost painfully so. She had been orphaned at a young age, and had no family to call her own. She had fallen in with her teammates in Funkyman purely by accident, and he knew how they had mistreated her. Yet, she soldiered on, making the best of her lot in life. She had impressed Ken the first day she had shown up at Skywatch, and he had decided to take her under his wing. His kindness had led to her developing a crush on him, but he had known that would pass in time. Someday, he knew, Mika would grow into a warrior, and he wanted to help her in any way he could.

Only now, Mika was dead. Nemesis had killed her after he'd finished slaughtering the rest of Funkyman. Ken closed his eyes and breathed in sharply. As he cradled the picture in his hands, he promised himself that Nemesis would pay, and pay dearly. He owed it to Mika - even if it cost him his own life in the process.

***

Kei Mizuno sat at her workbench, delicately connecting wires in her latest mini-satellite. It was a painstaking job, but the kind that gave her a sense of satisfaction. Her attention to the little details was what had helped her build Akaitaka Technologies into a world class company in only a few years. That success had made her wealthier than she could have ever imagined, but it was almost an incidental concern. It might have allowed her to own a larger-than-average home, but the money mostly went back into the company.

Kei's concentration was broken by the doorbell. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. 6:07 a.m. Who could be there at that time? Part of the reason she woke up so early was to get things done with a minimum of interruption.

Kei clambered through her makeshift lab, taking care not to run into any of the machinery lying around. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" she yelled as the doorbell rang insistently. This had better be important.

When Kei finally reached the front door, she opened it to be greeted by Shinsei Hinotori standing before her, a newspaper tucked under his arm. "Good morning, Kei," he said pleasantly. "May I come in?"

"Yes!" Kei blurted out. "I'm sorry, this is kind of unexpected."

"I do apologize for that," Hinotori said as he looked around her home. "I knew you kept early hours, so I thought it best to get here as soon as possible."

Kei wiped some perspiration from her brow. "Why? You know you're always welcome here, but you sound like you need something."

"I do," Hinotori acknowledged. "I need Green Wyvern."

Kei Mizuno turned away. "You need a time machine then. Green Wyvern is 10 years in the past."

"Is that so?" Hinotori pressed gently. "Oddly enough, there's a story in the back section of my paper that says she captured an assassin only yesterday."

"Just...just self-preservation," she stumbled to explain. "Nothing more."

"And that explains the other 77 reported sightings of Green Wyvern in the last 5 years, too?"

Kei kept her back to him as she protested. "Look Phoenix, why are you doing this? If Skyforce or whoever needs a sentai so badly, they should just call Rhythmranger, or whatever those clowns call themselves."

"They're dead, Kei."

Kei Mizuno stiffened. "What?"

"Yumei Sentai Funkyman was killed yesterday by some unknown menace," Hinotori explained as he unfolded his paper. "A menace that wants Jetman and the universe, in that order."

Kei Mizuno turned back around, taking the newspaper Shinsei Hinotori offered her. She read the account of the previous day's events slowly, taking time to soak it all in. When she looked up, the defensiveness was gone. In its place was a look that Hinotori remembered quite well from 10 years earlier.

"Count me in," she quietly stated.

***

Black Condor flew across the Honolulu sky, travel bag in hand. He was glad the Honolulu International Airport was only a short way from the Hawaii Convention Center. Flying from point A to point B under his own power was probably the easiest way to go, but it didn't change how fatigued he was feeling. The flight hadn't been particularly restful, and the wear and tear of an entire day with no sleep was starting to get to him.

He landed in an inconspicuous spot near the Convention Center. There, he reverted back to Ken Tendo. He checked his flowered Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sandals to ensure they were up to specs. He wanted to look like an everyday tourist, not a man on a mission.

Ken made his way to the entrance of the Convention Center. He stopped in his tracks when a sharp voice ordered him in English to halt.

"Hey, you can't just go in there!" the man at the box office rebuked. "You have to pay the entrance fee!"

Ken looked at the man quizzically. He had forgotten that his English was not exactly world class, and that was a bit of a problem considering that he was in America. The man seemed to realize Ken's lack of comprehension, so he vigorously pointed at the card listing the admittance fees.

Ken nodded his understanding, then remembered something else. He had no American money, and he didn't have time to rectify the problem.

"Please," Ken managed in his broken English, "Gohan and Reiko are my friends. I need to see them!"

"Sure, suuuuuure," the man at the box office answered. "You have to pay just like everyone else!"

Just as Ken was debating the morality of making himself invisible and sneaking inside, a nattily-dressed Asian man walked up to the box office. "This gentleman is a friend of mine," he said as he pulled out his wallet. "I'd like to pay for both of us, if you don't mind."

The man at the box office took the money, then waved the pair through. Ken was rooted to the spot for a moment, then took the hint and followed his mystery benefactor.

"Hey, thank you, sir!" Ken called, before realizing that the stranger might not speak Japanese.

"No trouble at all, Mr. Tendo," the man replied. "I know you're here on important business."

"Yeah, I'm...wait, how do you know my name?"

The man turned and faced Ken. "Oh, I know all about you. Ken Tendo, alias Black Condor of Jetman. You're here in Hawaii to find your former teammates so you can confront Nemesis."

Ken felt a chill run down his spine. "W-who are you?"

The man shrugged his shoulders, then tipped his hat. "You can call me Mr. Hoshi."

The man turned back around and kept walking toward the entrance to the Convention Center's main floor. As he rounded the corner, Ken went dashing after him. There was something weird about this "Mr. Hoshi" and he wanted to know more about him.

Ken made his way around the corner in record time. When he did, Mr. Hoshi was nowhere to be seen. Had he made it onto the floor already? It seemed far-fetched, but the only alternative was that he had...disappeared.

Ken put it out of his mind. Whoever Mr. Hoshi was, clearly he wasn't a threat - at least for the moment. Ken was there to find Gohan and Reiko, and that was what he intended to do. The mystery of Mr. Hoshi could wait.

Ken entered the Convention Center floor and was almost overwhelmed by the crush of people that awaited him. There were so many of them! Finding Gohan and Reiko was going to be even harder than he'd anticipated. At least, that was what he thought.

As she did her best not to groan audibly at the lame Tiger Burai stage show she was being forced to endure, Reiko spotted Ken out of the corner of her eye. Her face brightened for the very first time on the Hawaii trip, and she began to tug on the arm of her oblivious husband.

"Gohan! Gohan!" she exclaimed as she began waving her free arm frantically. "It's Ken! Ken's here!"

"Ken? Really?" Gohan asked as he searched the crowd. When he zoomed in on Ken, he excitedly began waving his arms, too.

Though he was tired beyond all reason, Ken could plainly see a white-haired woman and an unfortunately-coiffed man when they were trying to get his attention. He worked his way through the crowd until he finally met up with his former teammates.

"Tendo-san!" Michiru said as Gohan and Reiko huddled around Ken. "What brings you to Hawaii?"

"Who is this guy?" Mike Minami butted in. "Why are you all making a big fuss over him? The show's not over yet!"

Gohan and Reiko both cast Minami withering looks. "Get lost, Mike!" they answered in unison.

Michiru could only giggle as Minami slowly shuffled away and returned his attention to his weak excuse for a stage show. For someone who proclaimed himself an "expert" to anyone within earshot, he didn't seem to know much.

Gohan slapped Ken on the back. "It's good to see you, old buddy! Glad you decided to check out the show!"

"I wish that was why I'm here," Ken said quietly, "but it isn't. There's big trouble, and I need you two."

Worry crept across Reiko's face. "Ken, what's going on?"

Before Ken Tendo could answer, screaming rang out across the Convention Center floor. Turning to the source of the ruckus, the trio of heroes witnessed a sextet of boxy, hat-wearing robots breaking down the walls and menacing the con's attendees. All six of them brandished guns, and Ken didn't want to wait to see if they would use them. Too many lives had already been lost.

"Gohan, Reiko," he called out. "Cross Changer!"

"OK!" the two of them replied without a second thought. "Cross Changer!"

In an instant, three henshin bracelets were activated. Black Condor, Yellow Owl, and Blue Swallow appeared in a flash, and made a beeline for the rampaging robots. Their task was made no easier by the stampeding crowd, fleeing in an understandable panic.

The Clunk-O-Tron robots, seemingly realizing an enemy offensive, split up and left one of their number to face Jetman alone. The robot fired its raygun, but Black Condor absorbed the blast with his Wing Gauntlet. He grabbed the mechanical man and threw him to the ground, smashing his fists into the robot's metal shell again and again. Finally, he broke through and destroyed the internal wiring, deactivating the robot once and for all.

A hole blew out of the roof and a lone figure rocketed inside. Dirk Dixon surveyed the Convention Center floor in satisfaction. "Ah," he thought, "a jetpack on my back, a raygun in my hand, and the Mongols on the run. All I need now is a willowy brunette and an eccentric European scientist and this day will be perfect!"

"Attention Cho-Gin-Sin-Tie Jet Men!" he announced proudly. "My Clunk-O-Trons have your minions on the run! Come out and face me, you dirty Mongols!"

"What's he talking about?" Yellow Owl pondered. "I've never even been to Mongolia!"

"How in the world does he speak Japanese fluently if he doesn't even know you're Japanese?" Michiru wondered as she snapped pictures of the interloper.

Minami looked at the rest of them. "Japanese? But he's speaking English!"

"What?" Blue Swallow said before thinking a moment. "Maybe...maybe there's something about him where we 'hear' him differently."

"That would explain why he sounds just like Goro Naya!" Yellow Owl agreed, and everyone looked at him in bewilderment.

"Enough talk," Black Condor said. "I'm going after him. Gohan, Reiko - you two take care of the rest of these robots."

Yellow Owl and Blue Swallow gave a thumbs up to Condor and he zoomed into the air. He tackled Dirk and held the slightly mad space hero tightly as he jetted through the new hole in the roof.

Owl and Swallow looked around and the convention was still a mob scene. They didn't exactly have an easy task ahead of them.

"So, how many robots left?" Owl inquired.

"Ah, five, I think."

"Sorry our vacation got ruined, Reiko."

Swallow looked over at her husband. "Are you kidding? This is the best part!"

***

Shinsei Hinotori and Kei Mizuno quietly sipped tea in her den. They had exchanged nothing more than token pleasantries since she had agreed to rejoin Jetman. Hinotori regarded her curiously. Even after all the years, there were times when she could be completely inscrutable.

Finally, Hinotori ventured to break the silence. "Kei, I realize you must have your reasons for being reluctant..."

"Yes."

"...but I'm glad that you changed your mind. Now, I have to ask another favor of you."

Kei looked up from her teacup. "Go on."

"It's Etsuko," Hinotori continued. "She broke off contact with Ken several months ago, and we don't know how to reach her. We need someone to get in touch with her."

Kei set her teacup down deliberately and wandered over to the window, drawing the shade open. "Ask Gohan then. Or Kaori Tendo. Maybe they know where she is. I don't."

"But she's your best friend."

Kei turned from the window and the pained expression on her face shocked Hinotori. "I'm telling you, I just don't know," she reiterated. "I haven't heard from her in months. She just left...she didn't tell me where she was going. She didn't even say goodbye."

Kei turned back to the window and stared intently at nothing in particular. Hinotori sighed and got up to stretch his legs. He turned on the TV, hoping to hear the news. He got more than he had bargained for.

"...identity of the attackers is not known at this time," the news reader said. "Representatives of the TV Asahi network could offer no clues as to a motive for an attack on a Tiger Burai convention, especially one on foreign soil."

"Foreign...soil?" Hinotori realized. "As in...Hawaii?"

Kei looked over at him. "It's started already, hasn't it?"

"That convention is where Ken was going. Gohan and Reiko are there. And Michiru..."

"Cross Changer!" Kei exclaimed and the uniform of Green Wyvern formed around her. She activated her remote signal and, within moments, Dragon Wyvern was floating directly over her house.

"Hope the neighbors don't mind," she smirked as she took Hinotori by the arm. "Are you coming?"

"Michiru is there," Hinotori replied and said nothing more. Green Wyvern nodded as she beamed both of them into Dragon Wyvern's cockpit.

"Can this ship get us there fast?" Hinotori asked. "Hawaii is pretty far."

Wyvern glanced over at him. "I'll make it get there fast."

The young woman flipped a series of switches and the Dragon Wyvern rose higher and higher into the air. When she had reached her desired altitude, she shifted a lever on the cockpit's floor and took hold of her controls. Dragon Wyvern took off at an unbelievable speed as it raced for the Hawaiian islands.

***

Black Condor and Dirk Dixon blasted through the roof of the Hawaii Convention Center. Condor unceremoniously dumped Dirk onto the roof as he landed a short distance away.

"Ha! I'm glad you 'Jet Men' have distinctive uniforms!" Dirk sneered as he clambered to his feet. "With most Mongols, I can't even..."

A sharp sock to the jaw temporarily silenced the space hero. "You need to shut the hell up!" Condor declared angrily.

Dirk rubbed his jaw. "Typical Mongol trick. Won't even let a man finish his sentence."

Dirk Dixon threw a series of punches at Black Condor. At first, Condor thought he would be fine as he blocked each of them in turn. However, as a few of the punches began to hit their mark, he had a horrifying realization. They were hurting him! How was this seemingly normal idiot able to stand up to him?

Finally, Dirk threw a devastating right cross that knocked Black Condor back several meters and toppled him to the roof. Dixon stood with his hands on his sides as he admired his handiwork while Condor struggled back to his feet.

"How are you so strong?" Condor sputtered in disbelief.

Dirk chuckled as he posed and flexed. "Clearly, you Mongols know nothing of the Dynamite Tension Training Method!"

Black Condor almost wanted to laugh, but he was in trouble and knew it. Fatigue had left him almost dead on his feet and now he was in another fight. If Dirk Dixon had been an ordinary lunatic, it wouldn't have been a problem. But Dixon was turning out to be anything but ordinary, and that didn't bode well.

"Here's something I owe you!" Dirk shouted as he activated his jetpack and roared toward Black Condor. The gleam in his eye was not one of naive innocence, but of cold-blooded determination.

Black Condor braced himself and prepared for the worst.

***

Michiru Oshima didn't know where to turn. On every side, there was a bustle of activity. Mostly, it was the con's attendees fleeing for their lives from the intruders. But there was much more going on - the return of Jetman after 10 years. She pushed her way against the mob as best she could, trying desperately to get into position to get some good pictures.

Yellow Owl used the Wing Gauntlet strapped to his right wrist to bludgeon the head of his Clunk-O-Tron opponent. Yet the robot refused to yield in spite of the multiple dents Owl was making in him. It clawed at the hero and attempted to pistol-whip him with its raygun.

Owl grabbed the robot and flipped it upside down. Then, with all the power he could muster, he drove it headfirst into the floor with pro wrestling's "piledriver" maneuver. The Clunk-O-Tron's head flattened out and it finally - finally - quit fighting back.

Meanwhile, Blue Swallow was dealing with a Clunk-O-Tron of her own. It advanced relentlessly for her, though at an agonizing snail's pace. She used her Wing Gauntlet to fire Wing Beams at the mechanical marauder and the lasers sizzled into its metal skin. But even ablaze, the robot continued its march.

Swallow spotted a fire extinguisher on a nearby wall. She bounded to it and wrenched it from the wall. She blasted its foamy contents at the Clunk-O-Tron, a course of action which disrupted its gears enough to impede it. As it ground to a halt, Swallow took the opportunity to kick its head from its shoulder.

Michiru smiled with satisfaction. Gohan and Reiko were doing well. But there were at least three other robots, and they weren't in her field of vision. Where had they gone?

Michiru's reverie was broken when "Butch," still clad in his Tiger Burai costume, ran past her screaming bloody murder. The distraction was just enough that she was caught unaware when someone knocked her down from behind. Whoever it was, they were in such a hurry that they didn't care who got trampled.

"Help me, tasukete!" the man hollered as loud as he could. From her position on the floor, Michiru squinted as the man sped past her. It looked for all the world as if it had been her host Mike Minami that had sent her sprawling.

Heavy metal footsteps distracted Michiru from her ire and she realized the cause of the commotion. She turned to see a Clunk-O-Tron approaching her, raygun at the ready. There was no time to escape or wait for help - she'd be dead. The only thing she could do was fight back.

Michiru slid backward as she tried to think of what to do. As she did, her hand brushed up against the Actual Prop Tiger Staff that "Butch" had dropped in terror. The cold steel against her palm gave her an idea, and she wrapped her hand around the metal staff.

Abruptly, Michiru stood up and let loose a hearty yell as she swung the Tiger Staff at the Clunk-O-Tron. She whacked the robot repeatedly, but seemingly for naught. The only thing she accomplished was knocking the raygun from its hand, and that was cold comfort when it picked her up.

Michiru took the staff in both hands and jammed it into the top of the Clunk-O-Tron's head. She had no idea if she was strong enough to do any good, but the alternative of being crushed to death didn't appeal to her.

Suddenly, there was a crunch. Michiru was afraid to find out if it was the robot or her back. Then, she felt the robot's grip slacken and its arms fell to its sides. The Tiger Staff protruded from the Clunk-O-Tron's head and it stood motionless before finally toppling over, its electronic brain hopelessly wrecked.

Michiru fell to her knees as the adrenaline rush wore off. She was still panting when Yellow Owl and Blue Swallow, having noticed her plight, raced up to aid her.

"Oshima-san, are you hurt?" Swallow asked in concern.

Michiru waved her off. "Fine. Just...out of...breath."

"She took care of one of the robots herself," Owl observed, "but that still leaves two."

"This place is almost empty now," Blue Swallow noticed, "and they're not here."

Yellow Owl scratched his head. "Where could they be?"

The two heroes looked at each other as it dawned on them.

"The roof!"

"Ken!"

Yellow Owl and Blue Swallow took off for the hole in the Hawaii Convention Center's roof. As they did, Michiru tried to get her wind back as she hunted for her camera. No way was she missing this.

***

The fatigue and the pounding he was receiving from Dirk Dixon was taking its toll on Black Condor. He could feel himself fading under the brutal pummeling. He espied the two Clunk-O-Trons lumbering across the roof and gulped hard. A triple-teaming might be just enough to finish him off in this weakened state.

"Not so fast!" Yellow Owl declared as he and Blue Swallow zoomed out of the hole in the roof. Each of them scooped up a Clunk-O-Tron and banged them together, disabling them before tossing them to the deserted street below. The two heroes landed on either side of their leader and steadied him as best they could.

"Safety in numbers, then?" Dirk mocked, totally forgetting that he had tried the same gambit himself. "Well, I can take on all three of you with my bare hands. No Mongol footsoldiers are a match for Dirk Dixon, The Man of Tomorrow!"

Dirk was cracking his knuckles, preparing to wade into all three Jetmen, when the sky grew dark. Everyone looked heavenward to see Dragon Wyvern hanging ominously in the air.

"If I were you," a female voice reverberated from the machine, "I'd consider surrendering!"

"It's Kei!" Blue Swallow clapped with glee.

"By thunder, your grotesque airship does not frighten Dirk Dixon!" the space hero proclaimed. "In fact, two can play at this game!"

Dirk twisted a knob on his raygun and fired it at the two Clunk-O-Trons lying in the street. When the ray hit them, they were reactivated and merged together into a single, larger robot. The robot grew bigger...and bigger...and bigger...

Soon, a giant hat-wearing robot was towering over the Hawaii Convention Center. Dirk ignited his jetpack and alighted on the robot's left shoulder.

"I think Clunk-O-Tron Maximus will be more than a match for you!" he laughed. "Now, on to the beach!"

"Waikiki Beach!" Yellow Owl realized as they watched the robot as it clanked through Honolulu.

"Everyone! Beam aboard the ship!" Green Wyvern called and her three teammates obeyed. They instantaneously arrived in the extra seats in Dragon Wyvern's cockpit and were surprised to see Shinsei Hinotori along for the ride.

"Phoenix!" Swallow exclaimed in surprise. "You're in on this, too?"

Hinotori gave them a wry look. "Was there ever a doubt?"

Dragon Wyvern took off after Clunk-O-Tron Maximus just as Michiru Oshima emerged on the roof of the Convention Center. She cursed under her breath as she watched the action leave her behind again. Then, she turned around and headed back down the stairs.

Dragon Wyvern's tail knocked Clunk-O-Tron Maximus into the surf when the two mecha arrived at Waikiki Beach. The tourist crowd wisely made tracks as the waterlogged robot regained its footing.

"Confound you Jet Men, you'll pay for that!" a dripping Dirk Dixon threatened.

"We shall see," Green Wyvern coolly said as she initiated Dragon Wyvern's robo mode conversion. In seconds, Jetman stood before Clunk-O-Tron Maximus in a robot of their own.

"God Wyvern Transformed!" they pronounced as one.

God Wyvern lunged for Clunk-O-Tron Maximus, but the clumsy robot somehow dodged the grab. It did it little good, however, when God Wyvern rocked it with one of its elbow extensions. The blow sent Clunk-O-Tron Maximus into the drink once again.

"Finger Gatling!" Green Wyvern cried as God Wyvern's hands sprayed Clunk-O-Tron Maximus with missiles. Dirk held on for dear life and hoped that clean living would somehow protect him. He didn't stand a chance otherwise.

Clunk-O-Tron Maximus rose again and began to batter God Wyvern. The two mecha exchanged punches until the giant Clunk-O-Tron started to slow down. It went unnoticed by Jetman at first, but soon, they began to see a change in Clunk-O-Tron Maximus' shiny exterior.

"He's turning brown," Owl said.

"Is that...rust?" Swallow asked incredulously.

Wyvern smiled. "Yes. Yes, I do believe it is."

"Wait, it's rusting out?" Condor inquired. "What kind of moron doesn't make their robot rust-proof?"

"Apparently, that kind of moron," Hinotori responded as he pointed to Dirk Dixon rocketing away from the completely inert Clunk-O-Tron Maximus.

"You might win this round, Jet Men," Dirk thundered as he rendezvoused with his rocketship, "but Dirk Dixon will be back! Good must always triumph over evil!"

Green Wyvern watched the rocketship blast away. "You know, we could catch that crate with no trouble."

"There'll be another day," Condor reassured. "Right now, we need to take care of Bolt Butt here."

"No problem," Wyvern replied. "Wyvern Blade!"

God Wyvern's sword appeared in its hand. It began to segment itself, each separate piece linked with Birdonic Energy. The robot snapped the weapon back like a whip and lashed Clunk-O-Tron Maximus' oxidized remains.

"Wyvern Blade Chain!" Green Wyvern shouted as her weapon destroyed its opponent. She and her teammates felt an odd sense of dissatisfaction as the enemy was vaporized. For all of the trouble involved, the final battle felt terribly...anti-climactic.

***

Jetman gathered on Waikiki Beach, catching up for the first time in years and taking stock of their situation. As they did, a lone woman managed to break through the police barricades that had been set up as a precautionary measure. She threw herself into the waiting arms of Shinsei Hinotori.

"Shinsei!" Michiru exclaimed between gasps for breath. "I don't even care how many pictures I missed if you're here!"

Hinotori said nothing, so relieved to finally know that she was safe. As they embraced, a pair of disheveled-looking men wandered up, looking entirely too pleased with themselves.

"We looked after Ms. Oshima as best we could," Mike Minami declared proudly as Butch nodded like a bobblehead doll. "Glad we could help out."

Michiru turned and leveled the ultimate in "if looks could kill" glares at Minami and Butch. "Leave. Both of you."

Minami opened his mouth, but said nothing, deciding for once that silence was best. He backed away slowly, pausing only to grab the clueless Butch by the arm and drag him along.

"Who were they?" Hinotori wondered.

"Don't ask," Michiru replied as she kissed him.

Meanwhile, Ken had finished his explanation of the Nemesis threat to his teammates. "I know this is a lot to take in," he concluded, "but are you guys in?"

"I can't believe you even need to ask!" Gohan said as he wrapped an arm around his old friend.

"When we fight, we fight together," Reiko chimed in.

The others looked to Kei. "I'm here," she responded. "I think that's answer enough."

"Thanks guys," Ken said. "Now, we just need one more person to be back at fighting strength."

"Yay sis!" Gohan enthused. "Have you talked to her yet?"

Ken's eyes widened. "I-I was going to ask you and Reiko if you knew where she was."

Reiko shook her head. "We haven't heard from her in months. Our schedules are so crazy, we hadn't had the chance to try to get in touch."

"Yeah," Gohan added. "Besides, we figured she would keep up with you and Kei."

Kei looked down. "I haven't heard from her either."

The members of Jetman gazed at each other in concern. Each of them had assumed the lack of communication had only been for them. Now, it was clear that their friend had disappeared. Had she done so deliberately, or was something more sinister at work?

Where was Etsuko Oishi?

 

TO BE CONTINUED

 

NEXT TIME ON NEW RETURN OF JETMAN

Where is Etsuko Oishi? Who holds the secret of her whereabouts? Can Jetman reach her before the Paradox Army reduces the ranks of the team by one? What new menace will Nemesis unleash next? To find out, be here for NEW RETURN OF JETMAN Episode 3 - "Some Say In Ice"!

 

 

Story © Christopher Elam, based on the TV series CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN and the original "Return of Jetman" stories by Lewis Smith. JETMAN and all characters from the CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN series © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency. Annie © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency. Original characters © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith.