Chapter Four: 'And Who Are You?'
Part Two: 'Joe Asakura, Meet Joe Thax.'
Disclaimer: The Gatchaverse is property of Tatsunoko; Dr. Keane and the Eagle Riders belong to Saban; Dr. Brighthead is the property of Turner Broadcasting which is solely responsible for his name.
ISO HEADQUARTERS, UTOLAND CITY
Different city, different continent, different *universe* but the same rotten architect.
Doctor Thaddeus Keane eyed this ISO building with the same disfavor he gave his own, on the rare occasions he could bring himself to actually look at the monstrosity; a squat silvery skyscraper with a bite out of the top.
The assembly hall was equally tasteless with its gaudy yellow and orange color scheme and representatives' desks hanging on the walls.
"Like a carnival ride." Keane grumbled to Pandora as their desk glided upward on its track.
She bit her lip fighting a smile. "That's just what Dr. Nambu says."
"He would."
Pandora and Ken had both been against him attending this Council meeting. Careful questioning had revealed their objections were based on reflex not reason.
"What if somebody realizes you're not Dr. Nambu?" Ken had argued.
"I fooled you for three days." Keane reminded him.
"It's an unecessary risk." Pandora said.
"Breaking pattern would be far more suspicious." Keane pointed out. "Assuming Nambu is as conscientious about such things as I am."
An exchange of guilty looks made it clear he was.
"Dr. Pandora will be with me, I'm sure she'll find a way to forstall any indiscretions on my part." Drily, "Worse comes to worse she can always shoot me again."
That got a blush from Pandora and a reluctant grin out of Ken. "Yours did that too, huh?"
"My Dr. Aikens tends to be somewhat drastic in her methods."
"You can say that again." Ken'd replied.
So here he was, sitting in his usual place halfway up the west wall bored to tears, also as usual. Keane approved of democratic representative government in theory but that didn't make the practice any less tiresome.
Pandora had admitted, under pressure, that the other delegates simply didn't know Nambu well enough to detect a change. Excepting Director Anderson of course and Keane intended to do his best to avoid him.
Sitting next to the wrong Doctor Pandora admitted to herself that that Keane had been right to come. Nambu's absence might well have provoked questions and curiousity, especially from the Doctor's political enemies. She wondered if Keane had the same problems in his universe.
So far he'd behaved exactly as Nambu always did, even to grumbling about the decor. Now he was apparently absorbed in his notes and calculations but she guessed like Nambu he'd be able to repeat every speech verbatim, complete with acidic commentary, if asked.
She let her mind wander. Dr. Nambu's exit point on the Pacific seabed posed major logistical problems but Dr. Keane's entrance point, buried in the ruins of the Galactor base, hadn't proved much more accessible. Still, after two days digging they were close to the teleport chamber. With luck it would all be over soon - and no one the wiser.
Suddenly the Doctor stopped writing, listening intently to the latest speaker; a delegate from the Pacific Basin states asking for humanitarian aid after a series of devestating unseasonable storms.
Pandora looked at him worriedly. If this were Nambu that stony impassivity would indicate grave concern, even alarm.
The second the session ended he hit the desk control and was heading for the door almost before it'd reach floor level. She grabbed purse and papers and hurried after him.
"Doctor, what's wrong?" she panted, catching up.
"I'm a fool." was the grim reply. "I've been so relieved the rift remains open I haven't bothered to calculate the effects of the anentropic energy flows on Earth's electromagnetic field."
"You think the strange weather could be related to the interdimensional breech?"
"I think it's a possibility that must be checked."
The Team'd set up a monitor and control center in the Galactor hanger bay to detect the rift's energy signature and direct the diggers. Joe, Ryu and Ken, dusty and tired from the day's work, were slumped on convenient heaps of rubble drinking bottled water as Jun and Jimpei prepared to shut down for the night.
The Doctor brushed them aside bringing the main board back up and tapping briskly away at the controls.
"Something wrong?" Ken asked Pandora.
"Doctor is afraid energy flows from the undersea rift may be affecting Earth's weather." she explained/
"Worse than that that." Keane turned from the console, grimfaced. "Both rifts are growing."
"What?" the others chorused in various registers of bewilderment and alarm.
"Slowly, very slowly, but the rate is increasing expotentially."
"That's not supposed to happen." Jun protested. "The universal matrix should be trying to re-establish the norm. The rifts should be closing."
"They should be, but they're not. We must find a way to seal the fissures and soon." Jinpei made a protesting sound and Keane smiled reassuringly at him. "After we get Nambu back of course."
"Maybe that's the problem, you and our Doctor are on the wrong sides." Ken suggested. "Maybe when you're both back where you belong the rifts will close automatically."
"I doubt it." Keane replied. "Two people shouldn't make any difference to the matrix." frowned down at the readouts. "None of this is according to theory."
"Sounds like you need a new theory." Joe observed.
"Maybe." the Doctor agreed ruefully.
"We're nearly there, we could go back down and finish tonight." Ken offered.
Keane shook his head. "Working tired is a good way to have accidents. It's not worth the risk."
"But -"
"I said no, commander!" the Doctor calmed himself with a visible effort. "A few hours isn't going to make that much difference. Get some rest." He readdressed himself to the console as the Team and Pandora headed back to the surface. After several minutes he looked up to see Joe still there, waiting patiently to be noticed.
"I don't get tired. No reason why I can't go back down."
"Not alone. You could be buried by a roof fall."
Joe snorted gently. "Wouldn't hurt me."
"You're not indestructable." Keane reminded him. "and it might rebury the teleport chamber as well. It's not worth the risk, Joe."
He shrugged, accepting the decision. "Whatever you say, Doctor." Leaned himself against a computer bank. "So your Joe's a cyborg too?"
Keane nodded. "Towards the end of Lukan's War he began to suffer from the effects of an old head injury. Being a stubborn young fool he hid the symptoms and got himself killed in a one man invasion of the Vorak's headquarters."
Joe snorted again. "Except a mad scientist collected the meat before it was cold and turned him into a cyborg."
"Something like that." the Doctor agreed. Sat on the chair facing the consoles. "I should have paid more attention to him. Seen he was in trouble."
"Now hold on, Doctor," Joe protested, "you must have had plenty of other things on your mind at the time."
Keane shook his head. "I should have noticed *something*. My own son was dying on his feet in front of me and I missed it."
"I was damn careful my Doctor didn't get a chance to see anything." Joe argued, "I bet your Joe was too. What happened to me, to us, was our own stupid fault."
Keane was unconvinced. "I failed him." took off his glasses to rub his eyes. "And Joe and Kathy too, they counted on me to take care of their son."
There was a long silence. "Damn." Joe said softly, at last. "You think my Doctor feels that way too?"
"I'd be very surprised if he didn't." Keane put his glasses back on. "I'm sorry, Joe. The strain must be telling. I don't make a habit of inflicting my emotions on others."
"Neither does Dr. Nambu." said Joe.
THE EYRIE, ABOVE GATEWAY CITY
"They're gonna kill us."
Hunter looked at his second in surprise. "Who is?"
"His Team."
They both looked at Dr. Brighthead. He had a definite limp, one arm in a sling, and a large bruise clearly visible on his throat where Joe had knocked him out.
Hunter winced. "Maybe they'll understand."
Joe gave him a look. "Would we?"
"It was my fault for starting the fight." Brighthead broke in, proving his hearing was as uncannily sharp as Dr. Keane's. "And I'll tell them so."
Kelly stood somewhat in advance of the others aiming a scanner at a heat wave like distortion in the center of the library. "This is the breech all right but I can't get any image of what's on the other side."
"Not surprising." the Doctor said calmly. "I doubt any signal could pierce the anentropic interference. In all probability there's nothing there but a wrecked Gallactor Base."
"We hope." said Hunter. "Oh, well. Nothing ventured as they say. Let's go have a look." He brought his arm into position intoning "Eagle Mode, now!"
All five Eagle Riders flouresced as shirts and jeans reformed into birdstyles.
Hunter settled his wings, took a breath, said, "Follow me." and walked into the rift. It was dark on the other side but there was enough light to see the Doctor had been right, nothing but a ruined base. He barked his shins on a fallen beam and nearly fell headlong. Recovered, wings flapping, only to be pushed over as Joe barged into him from behind.
"Sorry." the Falcon extended a hand to help his leader to his feet.
Hunter glared, then accepted it, both quickly moving out of the way as Kelly, Ollie, Mickey and Dr. Brighthead came through in rapid succession.
"Watch your step." Hunter warned. Then, "Doctor, I didn't mean you to come." eyebrows arched and he finished defensively. "It could be dangerous." "This is my universe, Commander." glanced ruefully around at the half caved in room. "We may need an earth mover to get to the surface."
"Your Team sure did a job on this place." Kelly agreed.
"They did indeed." Brighthead looked at what remained of the teleport machine, smashed flat beneath a toppled pillar.
Joe stepped forward, heaved it out of the way uncovering at the squashed machinery. "Maybe you and Aiken's can do something with the pieces?"
Brighthead didn't sound very confident. "We can try."
Dr. Aikens, when she came through, was even less sanguine. "You've got to be kidding!" she said nudging fragmented components with her toe.
"Think of it as a challenge." Hunter advised.
"Or a little something to keep you and Doc occupied while we dig our way out." Joe suggested.
They all looked at the precariously balanced tangle of fallen posts, beams and wall panels
"Be careful." Brighthead warned.
"You got it, Doc." fervently from Ollie.
"Kelly, you can't dig with that arm, why don't you help the Doctors with the teleport." Hunter ordered. "Mickey," the smallest Eagle Rider tensed suspiciously. "We're going to need you to do some scouting for us. Wriggle your way into that mess and give us some idea of where to start so we don't bring the whole place down on our heads."
Mickey beamed. "Sure thing, Hunter."
"Be careful." from Kelly.
"I know what I'm doing." the Swallow slipped away through the interstices of rafters and rubble.
"Good thinking, Hunter." Ollie said, quietly approving.
"I'm not snowing the kid." his commander answered as softly. "We start shifting this stuff around at random anything could happen."
"I take it Mickey is self conscious about his size?" Brighthead asked Kelly.
She nodded. "He's nearly fourteen now and smaller than all his friends - even the girls. He will grow - According to his chromosone plot he'll be as tall as Joe someday - but in the meantime we try to make his shortness look like an advantage whenever we can. What about your Peewee?"
"He's only ten years old. That problem hasn't arisen yet."
The three older Eagle Riders spent the rest of the day digging, directed by Mickey, getting as far as the seventh level before breaking off for the night.
The next day started early but proved even more laborious. The upper levels had been badly damaged.
It was late afternoon when Joe suddenly stopped working and whispered, "Quiet!"
The others froze, looked at him tensely. "There's movement ahead," he continued softly after listening a moment. "Somebody else is down here with us."
"Vorak?" Mickey hissed, wide eyed.
"More likely Dr. Brighthead's Gallactors." Hunter corrected.
"I'll go see." Joe vaulted a barrier of fallen rubble and was gone before Hunter had a chance to argue.
As he moved towards them the small sounds, inaudible to normal ears, stopped. Joe froze in place, listening intently. After a long moment he heard movement, somebody coming steathily towards him.
*They heard me!* Which meant they had augmented senses too. Dr. Brighthead had said the Gallactor didn't run to androids or cyborgs but some were aliens with unusual powers. *Okay, forget quiet. Let's see what he looks like.* Joe started moving again, directly towards the other.
After a few minutes he was blocked by a fallen support column, he started to heave it out of his way and felt the massive pillar turn suddenly weightless, as if somebody was lifting from the other side. Together they sent it toppling. Joe straightened to find himself face to face with - himself!
The two Falcons stared at each other speechless. And a familiar voice said; "Joe Asakura, meet Joe Thax."
"Dr. Keane!" and there he was, watching the two of them with visible amusement. "Am I glad to see you, Doc." Pulled himself together and addressed his alternate. "Dr. Brighthead's going to be happy to see you too."
The other Joe blinked. "Who?"
"Not Dr. Nambu?" Keane asked sharply.
Now it was Joe Thax's turn to be confused. "Doctor Who?
Keane looked grim. "I think we we have a problem."