The S-Files - File BS03-Dra-T001
Easy Prey? The Dragon Trap
(c) by Stayka and Shavana
"Nice photos!" Himiko admired Jabu's poses. The guy sure had
had fun with the photo session!
"Just my sentiments", Makoto nodded.
"And who's next? It seems my Rubberduck Saint is still not in
Tokyo..."
Makoto leafed through today's newspaper to find another article on the
'Galaxian Wars' tournament. The reporters certainly knew first when
another of the Saints arrived.
"What about this looker?" Himiko pointed at the pic
of a guy with really long, black hair who was featured as one of the most
promising candidates to win the prize of the tournament.
"I don't understand how one is able to fight with such a long
mane!"
"We'll ask him when we have him on the examination table."
"I'd love to brush this magnificent hair", Makoto said
dreamily.
"No problem - as long as we're able to catch him in the first
place."
"He does look pretty strong and dangerous", Makoto said
thoughtfully.
"Well, the newspaper says he has 'the strongest fist and shield'.
I'd really love to put this stuff into my test vats to analyze its
structure."
"But be careful with taking your probes. I don't want to
experience his fist and shield first hand. And don't expect me to hunt
anyone with bow and arrows again!"
"I shall try to design a proper trap", Himiko declared, and
her light blue eyes sparkled adventurously.
"A Dragon trap? But it'd better be sturdy."
"We need some bait, too."
"What about some sheep", Makoto grinned. "In ancient
times it supposedly worked with dragons..."
"I thought they used virgins... Any takers?"
"Only if you know some." Makoto sighed. It's too bad
that we don't know too much about those Saints. Can't you check the Graude
Foundation's database on them?"
"I wish I could... But unfortunately it's pretty well
safe-guarded, and the professor insisted that we do our
examinations devoid of any information that might lead to prejudices. You
know he's weird."
"I don't know nothing... He's your boss. I was only
transferred to your department for the research project."
"Hm. Why don't we join the fan clubs of the Saints? I'm sure new
members will get welcome kits with some information and photos and the
stuff," Himiko suggested.
"I guess we still have enough petty cash to apply for all of the
fan clubs. Wasn't there a list in yesterday's newspaper?" Makoto
rummaged among the papers of the desk. "Ah, there it is!"
Himiko grabbed for the newspaper. "Cool! There are 23 different
fan clubs. And the little cutie Shun has five of his own..."
"So we are supposed to write 23 letters?"
"I'll write the letter, you write the addresses on the envelopes
and put the stamps on", Himiko decreed. While Makoto sighed and
scribbled down addresses, the engineer wrote one general appliance letter
and printed it 23 times. "Which reminds me - we could sell them a
couple of our photos for a good price."
"Indeed..."
"I want some really nice autographed photos from those
cuties!"
"You'd better devise this Dragon trap of yours instead of drooling
over those guys."
"Okay, okay..." Himiko let the photos she had just admired
disappear in her pocket. "What about sending him a letter and
inviting him to the Research Lab?"
Makoto stared at her. This plan was so simple, it actually might work.
"Indeed, Jabu was very cooperative when I just asked him, too."
"See! - Now where's the official stationary of the GF Research
Center..." Himiko rummaged around until she tugged a not too crumpled
sheet from the messy heaps of paper on the desk and inserted it into the
printer. When the letter was ready, she gave it to one of the couriers of
the internal postal service of the Graude Foundation to see it delivered
to the Kido Mansion. "They all seem to live at the Kido
mansion", she said. I wonder if we could convince someone to let us
stay there, too..."
"So that you can sneak in on the poor guys whenever you wish? Naa,
we'd better stay where we're supposed to stay. - Let's tidy up the desks a
bit. I don't want to have all the photos lying around when the Dragon
Saint gets here."
"Sure... Ah, these two are for my personal collection."
Himiko let two nice Jabu poses disappear in her pocket, while the other
photos found their way into the file cabinet.
"Hm, many more pics won't fit in there", Makoto observed.
"Unfortunately. I shall select the best ones for continuous
admiration... Why don't we have a better pic of him", she
sighed disappointedly and waved the grainy pic of her favourite around.
"I want to have a nice portrait of him - preferably one on which he smiles!"
"Which one was this?" The doctor frowned. "This pic is
just bad."
"That's the problem... The lab tried to magnify it for me, but
obviously it was shot from too great a distance. I guess whoever took the
photo was afraid to get much closer. I heard some rumours that those
Golden ones were really dangerous..."
"Yes, wasn't there something that the Goldies are the strongest,
followed by those Silver ones, and the Bronze guys are the weakest
ones?"
"I must admit the latter ones are already pretty strong for my
taste! But I want to examine that guy after we're through with the
Dragon."
"You go first!"
Himiko grimaced. "I will think on a perfect camouflage."
"And what do you think of? Those temples are supposed to be pretty
empty, aren't they?"
"Well, what about putting on a holographic projector and posing as
a column? - I want to catch this guy for our examination
project!"
"You want to catch this guy for your collection", Makoto
corrected. "But I think we should examine the Dragon first."
"If you say so." Himiko cut out the portrait from the
newspaper and pinned it to the wall. "We have to wait for the courier
to deliver the invitation."
"This might take some time." Makoto threw some darts at a
life-size poster of a wrinkled little fellow with a weird hat that hung at
the door.
"What's with that poster? I thought we wanted to collect Saints,
not mushrooms."
"I can't do target practice with a poster of some cute guy",
Makoto grinned.
"Agreed. I wonder if this Roshi-guy is somehow related to
Yoda..."
Makoto looked from the Roshi poster to the Star Wars poster at the
other wall and back. "True, except for the colour of his teint, he
could be his brother." She fetched the darts from the target and
threw them again. "We need to find some occupation for the free time
between the examinations."
"Well, the Dragon isn't due before tomorrow, so why not take one
of the Foundation's jet planes and fly to Greece in the meantime? I have a
nice telephoto lens for my camera, and there are still some photos
missing. Or we could try to contact the other guys already in Tokyo and
set up a schedule for their examination. After that's finished, we could
move to the Research Lab in Greece and continue our work there."
"Let's wait and see..."
"Yeah. We still need to catch the rubberduck."
Makoto laughed. "You and your duck!"
"Haven't you seen the that promo pic? He's soooo cute! Those light
blue eyes, and the blond mane, and that body..."
"...and the utterly ridiculous duck on his head..."
"Ah well, it is not as if it would be glued to him."
"True," Makoto grinned. "I only wondered who had the
idea to call this a swan. I think I never saw such an ugly
rubberduck."
"I guess it's because there's no Duck constellation, only a Swan.
But at least the content of the Duck Cloth is absolutely droolworthy."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"It's absolutely unfair that you are the M.D.! I should
think about a change of profession."
Makoto's grin broadened. "No way. You get the trappings, and I get
the contents."
"But I want some of the contents, too," Himiko sulked.
"When I manage to catch that Goldie I showed you I will keep him for
me alone."
"When? If!"
Himiko sighed and looked at the watch. "Okay, work time is over. I
think we should get something to eat now, and tomorrow we'll inspect the
Dragon."
* * *
When the two scientists entered their lab the next morning, Himiko
shook her head. "It looks as if some bomb exploded here. We should
put all of those photos away before our appointment. Oh, the photo lab
already sent the developed films of the Andromeda cutie. Hm, it seems I
shot 6 films instead of the 5 I thought..."
Suddenly, the telephone rang. "That's the Dragon!"
"Why don't you answer the phone?" Makoto had her hands full
of photos that she put into an already stuffed drawer.
"If you insist.... - This is Graude Foundation's Research and
Examination Laboratory, Dr.Shizukawa Himiko."
"Hello. This is Shiryu speaking - I got some letter of your
organization, but I'm not exactly sure what you want of me..."
"Oh, it's a simple examination, Shiryu-san. Would you please be so
kind to visit the R&E lab as soon as possible?"
"What kind of examination?" Shiryu's voice sounded slightly
suspicious.
"Medical, psychological and so on. Ah yes, and don't forget to
take your armour with you."
"It's no armour, it's a Cloth", Shiryu corrected her.
"Ahm, sorry, yes, of course... But bring it anyway."
"If you insist... When?"
"What about right now? Then we are absolutely sure you are fit for
the tournament."
"Okay. I'll be there."
Himiko hung up the phone. "He's on the way."
"Why haven't we tried this from the start? It's very practical
that the guys here in Tokyo are more or less the property of the Graude
Foundation. I only fear it'll be more difficult with the others."
About half an hour later, the Dragon Saint arrived. Himiko ran to the
door and opened.
"Oh hello!" She had to look up to him and cursed the fact
that she was so small.
"Hi." Shiryu looked questioningly down to her. What was she
staring at?
"Ahm, please come in," she hurried to say. "The lab's
over there." She only hoped that Makoto had put away all of the
photos by now. "May I introduce you to MD Terada Makoto?" Himiko
pointed at her colleague. "Please put the arm- err, Cloth onto the
trolley."
Shiryu lowered the box onto the trolley. He held it only by one hand,
even though it looked pretty heavy.
"Hello Shiryu", Makoto greeted him.
"I'll be right back", Himiko chimed and went to the lab next
door to examine the armour. She only hoped she missed nothing of
importance while she was occupied with it.
Curiously she opened the box and peered into it. The armour looked
absolutely fascinating in its presentational form - like some abstract
green dragon sculpture. It was amazing that it was possible to put this
on.
Makoto busied herself with the physical examination in the meantime,
while Shiryu watched her every move.
Himiko finished her job about the same time as Makoto, but with far
less success. The material of the armour withstood every tool when she
tried to take a sample, and putting it under the microscope was beyond her
strength. The thing was indeed very heavy, and she had to remain checking
it with a magnifying glass while it still stood on the trolley. So she
finished by taking some photos of the armour and pushed the trolley back
into the other lab.
"Okay, it looks fine to mine", she declared. "I haven't
discovered any dents, fissures or other damage. - Could you please put it
on so that we can take some photos for the archives?"
"Why not?" Shiryu complied, and the women marvelled at the
process. How did all of those parts know where they belonged? And what
happened to Shiryu's civil clothing in the process? They would have to
review the video tapes of the surveillance cameras in slow motion to find
out.
Makoto circled Shiryu curiously. She wondered whether the donning of
the armour caused similar strange happenstances as it did with Shun - but
no, his hair still seemed to be the same length as before.
The Dragon Saint waited similarly curiously. What was the red-haired
woman looking at?
"It seems his hair doesn't grow longer when he puts on the armour",
Himiko observed.
"Indeed", Makoto agreed and caught a strand. "The same
length as before."
"Why does this surprise you?" Shiryu wanted to know.
"Well, when we examined the Andromeda Saint, we discovered that
his hair suddenly is about 40cm longer when he puts on his armour."
"Indeed? I never noticed." Shiryu went through some exercises
because he felt slightly bored. Himiko only hoped that the tape of the
surveillance camera was long enough.
Makoto was more fascinated about the fact that Shiryu's hair stayed
absolutely orderly even though he moved around. 'Absolutely mysterious,'
she thought. Her hair was much shorter, and still a single gust of wind
succeeded to turn it into a disaster.
"Okay, I think we're through with the examination", Himiko
decreed. "By the way, would you mind to go through some of those
exercises again without the armour, so that we can take some more photos
for our coll- err, archives?"
"Sure," Shiryu shrugged. He wondered what the two women were
up to with all of the photos, but when they insisted? Himiko was
delighted.
"I guess that's all now", Makoto said finally. "You
don't need to worry about your health before the tournament. But
maybe you should be a bit careful during the fights - it would be
a shame if you got hurt."
"Is that so?" Shiryu looked at her with amusement. "I
will see what I can do."
Himiko sighed in relief. The Dragon was soooo cute, and she absolutely
didn't want him damaged.
"Am I allowed to leave?"
"Sure", Makoto nodded. "And good luck in the
tournament."
"Indeed. And try not to be so hard on the cute little Andromeda
Saint if you have to fight him", Himiko added.
Amused, Shiryu shook the head and left. He wondered why all the women
and girls were so obsessed with this Andromeda guy...
- File BS03-Dra-T001 Closed -
Continued in
File GS01-Aqr-T001 - No Photos! Strike One for
Aquarius
Disclaimer: Saint Seiya is the property of
Masami Kurumada, Shueisha and Toei Animation.
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Last modified: 06.11.2002
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