Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
Written by Toriumi Jinzō
Illustrated by Ōtori Workshop
Part 2: Alien Invasion
Chapter 5
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The metropolitan government building looked dull in the morning light. It had been built over a decade ago. The years had changed the white façade into something dingy and gray.
This was the International Science and Technology Agency (ISTC) Headquarters office building in Shinjuku. Dr. Nanbu sat at his desk, paging through disorganized stacks of paperwork. “The real problems start now,” he muttered.
Dr. Nanbu struck a match and lit a cigar. Smoke rose into the air, only to be immediately sucked away by the air purifier. The ISTC was equipped with the latest model of air purifiers. There were plenty of them scattered among the offices.
The ISTC was established in 1998 to support and announce research by scientists from around the world. Twelve years after its founding, its authority had grown apace. As Director-General of the ISTC, Dr. Nanbu’s influence was vast.
Jun opened the door of Dr. Nanbu’s office without knocking.
“Take a look at what the papers are saying,” Jun said.
Dr. Nanbu set down his cigar.
Jun was nominally his secretary, but that was just a cover for her real job. Dr. Nanbu had been gathering qualified people to liaison with a mysterious backer over the years. Jun and Ken were two such people.
Jun placed a newspaper on his desk, then flounced into a chair, grinning. In a corner of the crime section, there was an article about the alien invasion theory that Dr. Nanbu had proposed the previous evening. The article treated the theory as nothing more than the ramblings of an eccentric professor.
Dr. Nanbu chuckled at what he read. “They’ll understand eventually,” he said. But then he frowned, his face marked by somber darkness. “Unfortunately, it will be too late by then. Humanity will be extinct.”
Jun’s face was also clouded with worry.
Dr. Nanbu understood what he was reading in the newspaper perfectly. It took time for people to accept paradigm shifts as profound as this one.
“Does common sense cloud our eyes from seeing the truth?” Dr. Nanbu muttered to himself.
The intercom on his desk chimed. Dr. Nanbu pressed a button on the receiver and picked it up, cradling it between his shoulder and his ear. “Hm? Oh, yes, let them in.”
He put the receiver down and signaled to Jun with his eyes.
Jun nodded and left the room, passing Ken as he entered. Ken handed documents and photographs to Dr. Nanbu in a manila folder.
“Doctor, the analysis of the fireball is complete.”
Dr. Nanbu looked over the aerial photographs first. “These are good quality. Looks like this was a very brief encounter.”
“We were lucky,” Ken said.
“No, you did well.” Dr. Nanbu nodded. Ken must have inherited some of this skill from his father, he thought.
Ten years ago, Ken’s father Kentaro Washio had devoted himself to gathering information about the aliens. He’d been a skilled pilot and Dr. Nanbu’s close friend. Kentaro had entrusted his son to Dr. Nanbu before going undercover for an investigation. He’d never been seen again. Ken’s mother had died of an illness when Ken was four. Dr. Nanbu became his legal guardian after that.
“Spectral analysis suggests that this is most likely artificial,” Ken said. “Could it be a scout?”
Dr. Nanbu nodded. “It seems they are finally planning a full-scale attack.” His voice was heavy with concern.
“Doctor, we have Project Phoenix,” Ken said. “It should help our side.”
Dr. Nanbu nodded at Ken’s confident words.
Jun returned, guiding a burly young man into the room. Ken looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Hey, aren’t you that Cessna guy?!” the newcomer spluttered. He pointed straight at Ken.
“Ryū Nakanishi? I thought you died in the tsunami…”
“I thought I’d be roasted alive by that fireball myself!” Ryū said. “I was saved. By the hovercraft, I think.”
Dr. Nanbu and Jun exchanged amused glances.
“Ken, he’s talking about the hovercraft that the doctor designed the parts for,” Jun said. “Not even a fireball can scratch it.”
“I didn’t know that,” Ken muttered, sounding dissatisfied.
“It took some time to convince Ryū to join us here,” Dr. Nanbu said. “From today on, he’s one of us, Ken.”
“Yes. He’s an excellent technician—I’ve already tested him,” Ken said with a hint of sarcasm.
Ryū took Ken’s words simply as praise. “I can handle the Cessna, too. I fly like a wild eagle. You can count on me,” he said, extending his hand.
Ken felt a genuine liking for Ryū’s straightforward honesty.
Ken and Ryū smiled warmly and shook hands.
It’s young people like you all who must stand up to the aliens, Dr. Nanbu thought to himself. This was a prosperous point in time for the planet, thanks to major advances in science and technology. But not everything about those advancements was positive. The culture trended toward materialism and away from self-reliance. Selfishness and hypocrisy had become widespread in society.
Those kinds of people would never be able to stop an alien invasion. Young people with decisiveness, scientific knowledge, special skills, and above all, pure passion were needed for that.
Dr. Nanbu sought out people who would set aside their own interests to save the Earth. Ken, Jun, and now the newly joined Ryū were all such people.
They each possessed the necessary qualities. Dr. Nanbu was deeply impressed by their enthusiasm.
“Now you are all Gatchaman.”
Ryū tilted his head in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jun burst out laughing at his puzzled reaction. “It’s a word that comes from ‘guts’ in English.”
“Oh, you mean like Guts Ishimatsu? Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Ryū, you wanted to be a boxer, didn’t you? You even applied in high school, but your weight got in the way.”
Ryū rubbed his nose with his fist in embarrassment. “You sure know everything about me, don’t you?”
“‘Guts’ in this context means to do your best. To have courage and keep going, even when things get tough.”
“Hmmm…” Ryū wandered over to the window, gazing curiously down at the city of Tokyo.
Jun’s expression grew serious. “Doctor, Joe Asakura is going to enter a race in Mexico.”
“Stop him. He must not leave Japan,” Dr. Nanbu said sternly.
Ken and Jun nodded in agreement.
Dr. Nanbu’s face twisted as if he were in great pain. “Be safe, Joe,” he said quietly. “It’s not your time to die, God of Death.”
Translator's Note
Guts Ishimatsu was a Japanese actor, comedian, and former professional boxer who competed in the Lightweight division from 1966 to 1978. “Guts” in Japanese (as a loan-word) is spelled ガッツ, “Gatsu.”
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