August 9, 1994

Gatchaman I: The Scripts

Edited and checked by Alara Rogers, translators individually
credited

These are *not* the subtitling scripts! These are scripts created
for the enjoyment of the reader, not the utility of the
subtitler.  The following differences exist between these scripts
and the subtitling scripts:

1.   Subtitling scripts contain song lyrics to opening and ending
credits.
2.   Subtitling scripts contain opening and closing credits.
3.   Subtitling scripts contain anti-piracy and "please don't sue
me Sandy Frank" disclaimer.
4.   Reading scripts contain stage directions.
5.   Reading scripts contain annotations.
6.   Reading scripts contain full individual credits.
7.   In subtitling scripts, Japanese expressions have been fully
translated, unless they exist in English.  For instance, "ninja"
remains "ninja", but "onechan" becomes either sis or the person's
name, depending on what sounds most natural in English.  In
reading scripts, "onechan," "aniki" and "-sama" have not been
translated.  For the benefit of the reader who does not know
Japanese, they mean:

"Onechan" (pronounced oh-nay-chan): Big sis, older sister. Both a
description (ie, "my older sister") and a term of address,
similar to "auntie" or "grandma", used to the older sister.
"Aniki" (pronounced ah-nee-kee): Big brother, used in the same
fashion "onechan" is used, but used only by boys. More familiar
and impolite than "onechan".
"-Sama" (pronounced sah-mah): "Lord", "Mr", "Great", or a term of
address that elevates the person you're speaking to. "Katse-sama"
can be translated as "Lord Katse", "Mr. Katse" (very polite Mr.),
or "Sir."
"Sosai": The dictionary will tell you this means "Governor" or
"President". The dictionary is lying to you.  "Sosai", the title
used for the character of X, is better translated as
"generalissimo", "fuhrer," or my favorite, "overlord". My
preference, however, is to just leave it as Sosai.

If you are a subtitler and you have a reading script, contact
Alara Rogers at ajer@delphi.com, or at 8 Rockwell Pl., Beacon, NY
12508, to get the subtitling scripts.  However, if you cannot get
hold of me and you *must* use the reading script, at least do
this: Change all translator credits to Project Aleph.  This is to
prevent someone at Sandy Stank or Ted Turner seeing that there
are decent subtitled copies of *their* property, dammit!
circulating through fandom and suing the names on the translator
credit.  DON'T LEAVE OFF THE TRANSLATOR CREDIT! PLEASE! Just
change the name to Project Aleph.  I have devoted seven years of
my life to these scripts; I don't want to see fansubs using my
scripts circulating without my pseudonym on them.

DO NOT CHANGE THESE SCRIPTS.  These scripts were prepared and
edited by native Japanese speakers and a professionally published
author who is seriously obsessed with this show.  I am not
bragging, merely pointing out that chances are your
*improvements* would not be. If you really have some ideas for
fixing mistakes and stupidities you see in the script-- and I'd
hardly claim there were none; I've checked through them very
carefully, but no one's perfect-- please write me and propose
your modifications. DON'T arbitrarily make changes.  If you can't
reach me at my current net address, try ajer@aol.com, as the
provider I'm on, Delphi, is user-hostile and does not have all
the functions I want, and I plan to check out AOL (yes, it's got
tons of lame-os on it, but if its Internet gateway does what I
want it to do then I couldn't care less about the lame-os); I may
switch if it turns out to be better.  If neither net address
works, write me at the above snail address; if I'm not here,
chances are my parents still will be.

Translator priority: The person who did the most work of raw
translation is listed first, with the person who checked and
edited translation (either Japanese accuracy or English
naturalness) listed second.

Script: Gatchaman I #1        Gatchaman Vs. Turtle King

translated by Alara Rogers, using the Tatsunoko translation as
reference, with assistance by Hide Izumi

At a lighthouse, a giant monster appears.

     LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER: Well, the visibility's terrible in this
rainstorm, but so far there haven't been any problems-- Aah! A--
a monster!!

The monster kills several scientists. Military people prepare to
attack it.

     SOLDIER: The monster robot's trying to break into the
uranium storehouse! Attack!

Guns fire at it, doing no good whatsoever. The monstermech steals
the uranium.

     SOLDIER: Dammit! It's stealing the uranium!

It takes off and destroys the entire base. At ISO.
     
     NARR: The monster robot's attack has thrown the entire world
into a panic. Representatives from all the nations of the world
have been called to a conference held by the International
Science Organization, to try to deal with this grave situation.
     
     ANDERSON: The focus of all of our major research lately has
been to find non-polluting sources of energy. But the uranium
that *we* would have used to further the cause of world peace has
been stolen by a robot monster. This is clearly the work of a
group that seeks to block our work, our quest for world peace.
     REP 1: Director Anderson, who is behind this conspiracy?
     ANDERSON: Unfortunately, despite the excellence of our
intelligence department, we have not yet been able to answer
that. 
     REP 2: Well, that monster robot is certainly going to come
back! 
     REP 3: We cannot neglect this situation! We've got to do
everything we can to find out who's behind this!
     ANDERSON: Yes, but as of yet, it's a complete mystery as to
who...
     NAMBU: I know who.
     ANDERSON: Dr. Nambu, did you say you knew...
     NAMBU: It's the Galactor Organization.
     ISO GUYS: Galactor? / Did he say Galactor? / What's that?
     NAMBU: That's right. According to my sources, they are an
organization dedicated to world conquest, with terrifyingly
advanced technology at their disposal.
     ANDERSON: I see... Then, Dr. Nambu, where is the
headquarters of this "Galactor"?
     NAMBU: That much is still unclear. We need to work secretly
from now on to ferret it out.
     GUY: Well, if even an excellent intelligence department like
ISO's couldn't find the  information, then who can?
     NAMBU: I'll tell you who.
     ANDERSON: Who?
     NAMBU: They are sometimes five, sometimes one. The white
shadows that slip in unseen; they are called the Science Ninja
Team.

Ken's plane is flying.

     KEN: This is Gatchaman. Over.
     NAMBU (on bracelet): This is Nambu. Gatchaman, radar's
picked up an unidentified flying object heading north.
     KEN: Doctor, do you think that it's that monster robot?
     NAMBU: Mm. I'm sure it must be. G-1, unite in the GOD
PHOENIX and go into action!
     KEN: Roger!

Ken raises his arm and transmutes.

     KEN: Bird, GO!
     NARR: Eagle Ken, a test pilot, is G-1 of the Science Ninja
Team, also called Gatchaman.

As the team start to assemble, the narrator speaks.

     NARR: Swan Jun, G-3 of the Science Ninja Team.
          Owl Ryu, G-5 of the Science Ninja Team.
          The Science Ninja Team is a commando squad made up of
five young people, founded by Dr. Nambu to defeat Galactor's
ambition of world conquest. Their objective-- using the various
machines Dr. Nambu built for them, and following Nambu's orders--
is to seek out the secret bases that Galactor has scattered
throughout the world, and uncover Galactor's headquarters.
          Swallow Jinpei, G-4 of the Science Ninja Team.
          Condor Joe, G-2 of the Science Ninja Team.
          With the arrival of Gatchaman, the Science Ninja Team
have just completed linkup, with all the mecha from G-1 to G-5
united.

The team unite in the GOD PHOENIX. Inside GP, Nambu on
viewscreen.

     NAMBU: The UFO-- which we believe to be the monstermech--
has vanished off radar. But remember that we're up against
Galactor. You must stay alert at all times.
     JINPEI: With a name like "Garakuta", they can't be much! (1)
     JUN: Not "Garakuta", "Galactor."
     NAMBU: The monstermech looks like a fierce turtle. It's
already caused numerous casualties.
     JOE: Damn! As soon as I see that turtle monster, I'm blowing
it to bits with the Bird Missiles!
     NAMBU: No. You know that the Science Ninja Team's primary
mission is not just to fight them, but to locate Galactor's
headquarters. Don't mistake it, Joe! Ken, you are leader of the
Ninja Team. Don't forget your duty or fail to follow
instructions. I want you to act with discretion at all times.
     KEN: Yes, Doctor.
     NAMBU: All right. I wish you all luck.

Jun turns to Ken.

     JUN: Maybe it won't come back?...
     KEN: It will. I'm sure of it.
     JUN: You really do want to look cool fighting that robot
monster, don't you, Ken?
     KEN: Of course, Jun. I'd like to blow it to-- uh, I mean...
you tricked me!
     RYU: Hey, what's that?

There's a murky whirlpool in the sea below.

     JINPEI: Turtles live in the sea... I smell something fishy.
     KEN: Ryu, submerge!
     RYU: Roger!

They pass through a tunnel.

     JINPEI: This must be the path the turtle monster took!
     JUN: Looks that way.

They confront Turtle King.

     JINPEI: Look! That turtle monster's HUGE!
     JOE: Dammit! That thing's just running wild! I can't take it
anymore. Ryu, get us in close to the damned thing!
     KEN: Hold it!
     JOE: What?
     KEN: Are you trying to disobey orders?
     JOE: That depends on the time and the situation. I just want
to get inside that thing and rip it to shreds!
     KEN: Our mission is to follow it and try to find Galactor's
headquarters. Ryu, get us out of here before they see us.
     JOE: Huh! I don't agree. You chickening out, Ken?
     KEN: What?
     JUN: Ken, look! The monster robot's headed for that city!
     JINPEI: Oh, no! Now the city's going to be destroyed!
     JUN: It's awful that all those innocent citizens should be
killed.
     RYU: I can't stand this anymore. I feel like crying!
     JINPEI: Me, too.
     JUN: What're we going to do, Ken?
     JOE: I'm not listening to you anymore, Ken. *I'm* going to
trash it with the Bird Missiles.
     KEN: Wait!
     JOE: Outta my way!
     KEN: Ryu! Approach the side as closely as you can.
     JOE: Ha. There you go, Ken.
     KEN: Easy, Joe. We're just going to gouge out its eyes.
     JOE: Good enough for me.
     KEN: All right, listen up. Two of us are going to sneak into
the monstermech through the ventilator.
     JINPEI: That's what I've been waiting for! This is a job for
the great Swallow Jinpei!
     KEN: You're not going, Jinpei.
     JINPEI: What?
     KEN: Recovering the stolen uranium's going to be a tough,
dangerous job. Whoever goes might not come back. I'm going to be
one of the two who goes.
     JOE: And I'm the other, right?
     JUN: Wait a minute. You know I'm the one who's supposed to
handle dangerous materials. So it's got to be me. Sorry, Joe.
     JINPEI: *You* just wanna be with Ken. Isn't that right,
onechan?
     JUN: Hey!

Outside GP.

     KEN: Let's go, Jun! 

Top dome goes down.

     KEN: BIRD--
     JUN:      FLIGHT!!

Inside Turtle King.

     GALS: Who's that?

Ken and Jun take the Galactors out.

     KEN: Be careful, Jun. We need to be ready to sacrifice both
our lives if we have to.
     JUN: Leave it to me. (she starts to leave) Ken-- you be
careful, too, okay?

They split up. Ken is off looking for the uranium.

     KEN: {If the uranium's not here... where the *hell* could it
be?}

The Galactor captain sees the God Phoenix.

     CAPTAIN: You bastards are just *begging* for it! All right,
let them have it! This laser beam will light your way to hell! 

Jun leaves a bomb in a console. There is an explosion.

     CAPTAIN: What the-- There's something wrong with the laser!
Go check on it! 

Ken opens the belly of Turtle King. Aboard GP.

     JINPEI: Wow, they made it!
     RYU: All right, let's get in there!

The God Phoenix gets inside Turtle King. The three come out of
the top dome.

     KEN: The uranium isn't *in* this monstermech.
     RYU: Shit! We've been wasting our time, haven't we?
     KEN: Jun did her part, though. Now let's get out of here
before we get in trouble.
     JINPEI: But we haven't really finished yet...

They are trapped by Galactors.

     KEN: Shit! It's too late!
     JINPEI: Guess that means it's my turn now!
     JOE: Ken, we haven't got a choice anymore. We've *got* to
disobey orders now.
     KEN: Looks that way.
     CAPTAIN: This is the pride of Galactor, the monstermech
Turtle King. And you've gone and snuck aboard, you suicidal
brats. Now why don't you tell us your names before we kill you
all.
     KEN: We are sometimes five, sometimes one... (they start to
form a pyramid) ...The white shadow that slips in unseen...
     JINPEI: The shadow warriors for justice, we're the Science
Ninja Team...
     CAPTAIN: What?
     KEN: The name is GATCHAMAN!
     CAPTAIN: Gatchaman?
     JINPEI: Ninja Whirlwind Fighter!
     CAPTAIN: Fire at them! Fire!

There is a battle. The Captain, in his control room, speaks to
Katse via viewscreen.

     KATSE: You've failed, haven't you?
     CAPTAIN: Yes, sir... Berg Katse-sama, please give me orders!
What should I do?
     KATSE: Wait. Let me consult with the Overlord.

Katse speaks to Overlord X.

     KATSE: Overlord, please tell me what we should do about
Turtle King's failure.
     X: Listen, Berg Katse. This Science Ninja Team will be the
greatest opponent Galactor faces.
     KATSE: Our greatest opponent?
     X: Don't make little of them for their youth. Galactor will
not be able to achieve its ambition of world conquest until the
Science Ninja Team has been eliminated.
     KATSE: Yes, sir. I'll blow up Turtle King and let the
Science Ninja Team share its fate!

The head part of Turtle King detaches from the body.

     KEN: The head's just detached. Get into the God Phoenix!
We've got to go after that thing!

The captain is in the head.

     CAPTAIN: All right, you damned Science Ninja Team! Here's
your one-way ticket to hell!

A time bomb is set off. The team flee into God Phoenix, but the
hatch closes before they can escape, and they're stuck.

     NARR: Galactor has set off a time bomb to destroy its
monster robot and the Science Ninja Team with it. Beware,
Gatchaman!
     KEN: Shit! We need the Phoenix Effect!
     JOE: Ken, if we use that, we...
     KEN: I know. We'll have to endure tremendous pressure, and
the God Phoenix might break up in midair. 

The God Phoenix is struggling to get free.

     KEN: But what choice do we have? If we stay here, we'll be
destroyed along with this turtle creature!
     JOE: All right, let's try it. Science Ninja Phoenix Effect!
     KEN: Let's go! Up the generator to redzone!

Joe does so. They break free. The Captain sees the Phoenix
escape.

     CAPTAIN: What the hell is that?

     NARR: The God Phoenix, which crashed with Turtle King, has
transformed into a flaming firebird and soared high into the sky.
Using the "Ninja Phoenix Effect" at the risk of the team's lives
has thus paid off... Hang on, Science Ninja Team!

     1. "Garakuta" means "garbage". It is easily confused with
"Gyarakutaa", the phonetic spelling of "Galactor".Script: Gatchaman I #31:      The Plan to Assassinate Dr. Nambu

Translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers, with some
assistance from an official Tatsunoko translation

Joe and Nambu are in a car. Joe is driving.

     JOE: That's funny.
     NAMBU: What's wrong, Joe?
     JOE: There's a weird-looking car following us.

In the rear view mirror. It is indeed a strange car.

     JOE: All right, let's check it out and see what it does.
Doctor, please fasten your seat belt!

Joe speeds up and weaves through traffic. Nambu is thrown against
the side of the car.

     NAMBU: Joe!

The car pursues.

     JOE: Huh! So you *are* after us, after all!

The car pulls up next to Joe's. There is a masked woman with a
rose in her teeth inside it. A buzzsaw comes out of the side of
the woman's car and starts sparking against Joe's car.

     JOE: Ah! Doctor, watch out! Get down!

Joe drives over the woman's car and races away. The enemy pursues
and catches up.

     JOE: Shit! Didn't take her long at all to get after us,
dammit! That's one hell of a car she's got!

The enemy car blows out Joe's tire, and starts bumping the
limping car toward the side of a bridge.

     JOE: (thinks) {I can't do anything with the car like this!}

The woman's car ejects its own tires and rises. It successfully
shoves Joe's car off the side and into the water. The woman
throws a rose in after them. Joe sees the rose and ejects the
bottom half of the car; the top turns into a submarine. The rose
latches onto the bottom half and blows up. Joe and Nambu drive
away.

     NAMBU: Joe? How did you know that rose was going to blow up?
     JOE: Huh?- No reason. It was just a hunch.

Back at Nambu's home. The two arrive, to the great relief of the
team.

     KEN: Doctor!   
     NAMBU: I'm sorry to have made you worry. Joe saved my life.
     JOE: If I'd been in the G-2, I could have caught the bitch.
Those goddamn Galactors, they're even going after the Doctor now!
     KEN: If that's true, we can't leave his side for a moment.
     JUN: That's right. We don't dare leave him alone- we have
be with him, to protect him.
     JOE: I disagree. We should attack!
     KEN: Joe, this is a totally different situation. If Dr.
Nambu stays here, he's 90% certain to be safe.
     JOE: Maybe so. But if we do that, we're never going to be
able to catch the bastards, and stop them. Or do you want to wait
until they give it up? Till when? How many years do you think
*that* will take?
     JINPEI: What're you *saying*, Joe?
     RYU: Yeah! We should defend the Doctor, that's what we
should do.
     JOE: I'm saying 90% safety isn't good enough. We have to
risk 100% danger, and *catch* the bastards.

Joe stomps out.

     KEN: Joe!
     RYU: Sometimes that guy is just so strange.
     JINPEI: He hasn't got any team spirit.

In X's Audience Chamber.

     X: Berg Katse. Regrettably, ISO's mastermind Dr. Nambu is
not yet dead.
     KATSE: Wh-what?
     X: Listen to me, Katse. All Nambu has ever done is interfere
with us. He is also the coordinator for the Science Ninja Team.
Take him out, Katse. Use DEVIL STAR. Do whatever it takes, but
eliminate Nambu!
     KATSE: As you command!

Aboard Devil Star. The Woman Captain has her back to us, and is
brushing her hair. She is wearing a purple bodysuit.

     WOMAN CAPTAIN: As you've heard, we've gathered here to
assassinate Nambu. (1)
     DEVIL STAR 2: But it'll be next to impossible to kill Nambu
now that he's at his country house, since we don't know what kind
of security he's got.
     CAPTAIN: No, the way to do it is to lure him out.
     DS 2: How?
     CAPTAIN: I've got it taken care of already. Nambu will come
out whether he likes it or not. Soon he and the Science Ninja
Team will be no more than a memory.

The phone rings in Nambu's office, early morning.

     NAMBU: Yes... I see. All right, I'll investigate right away.
     KEN: Doctor!
     NAMBU: Something's come up, Ken. I've got to head for area D
at once.
     KEN: What?
     NAMBU: That was a call from Director Anderson. He says the
red tide has surged over the submarine ranch in area D. No one
knows why, so I'm to go and investigate.
     JUN: Don't go, Doctor! I'm sure it's a Galactor trap!
     NAMBU: Perhaps-- but that doesn't change the fact that I
need to investigate it.
     KEN: All right then, let us take you there in the God
Phoenix.

Nambu looks at the map of the railroad system.

     NAMBU: Thank you, but no. I'll be going with an investigator
from ISO by intercontinental rail. (2)
     JINPEI (to Ryu) Hey, you know what? They've got linear
motorcars running on the intercontinental line.
     JUN (to Ken) Ken, let's go along with the doctor.
     KEN: Wait. Suppose Galactor has caused that red tide-- this
is probably a trap to lure Dr. Nambu out. I've got to think of a
way to turn it back on them.
     JUN: Shouldn't we call Joe?
     KEN: Joe? Just forget about him!

Joe is racing around the track.

     NARR: Joe races the G-2 around the track to calm himself
down.

In Joe's memory, his parents are killed.

     PARENTS: Joe!!

He takes the gun from his dead father's hand and attempts to
shoot the Devil Star who just killed them. She tosses a rose at
him, and it explodes. Then the flashback ends, and Joe sees a
young woman unconscious by the side of the track.

     JOE: Hey! You all right?

He rescues her and brings her to his car just before hers
explodes.

     JOE: You're waking up? Where do you live? I'll take you home.

As they drive.

     JOE: Do you go to the racetrack often?
     GIRL: Whenever I get upset. It makes me feel better.
     JOE: Me too. That's the best way to calm myself down.

They reach a hotel. The Captain waits outside.

     GIRL: Hey, why don't we race together sometime?
     JOE: Yeah, that'd be great.
     GIRL: Tomorrow, same time, same racetrack?
     JOE: Sure. I'm not gonna go easy on you.

Girl mounts steps and approaches Captain.

     GIRL: I'm sorry I'm late just before a job.

The captain slaps her. Joe sees it in his rear view mirror.

     JOE: Huh? (looks at Captain) That is one *mean*-looking
bitch.

Back at home.

     JOE: Shit! Everyone went and left me. (he lies down) Huh!
They can do what they want. (thinks) {You'll never understand how
much I hate Galactor. They murdered my parents right in front of
me.} 

He sees a feather in the map. It's pushed into a train station.

     JOE: The Intercontinental Monorail. This is a long-distance
transit map. (he takes the feather, turns aside) Ken!

At the station.

     KEN: All right, I'll go with the Doctor. I leave all of you
to your jobs.
     CAPTAIN: Dr. Nambu. Director Anderson asked me to come here,
to guide you to area D.
     NAMBU: Oh. Well, thank you very much.
     JINPEI: Wow! What a beanpole!
     JUN: Shh! She'll hear you!
     KEN: Dr. Nambu, who is this person?
     NAMBU: She's Director Anderson's private secretary. (3)
     CAPTAIN: The train will be leaving shortly, doctor.

They get on board. The train departs.

     NARR: Because it is a magnetic monorail, with the traincars
suspended above the track by a powerful magnetic field and not
touching it, the linear motorcars of this train can go more than
500 km per hour.
     JINPEI: The linear motorcars're just as fast as I've heard!
Before you can even say "ah," it's a mile away!
     JUN: Don't forget your job! Science Ninja Team Operation, go
into action!
     RYU and JINPEI: Roger!

Aboard train.

     NAMBU: We're really moving. Already we're far from the city.
     CAPTAIN: There's nothing but vast plains and marshes out
beyond the city all the way to area D.
     NAMBU: It's all part of the job, I know, but still, this is
a very dull ride.
     KEN: {No, Doctor, you're wrong. This is the kind of terrain
Galactor likes best.}
     CAPTAIN: Who is that young man?
     NAMBU: He's my assistant, a test pilot.
     
Ken gets up and walks off.

     KEN: {Funny. She seems to know me.}

He heads into the space between cars.

     KEN: {So, you damned Galactors, how are you going to
attack?}

The Captain gets up and heads for the back of the train herself.
She speaks into a communicator bead.

     CAPTAIN: Our chance has arrived. I'll take care of Dr.
Nambu. You lure the Science Ninja Team away. Devil Star 2!

Aboard the Star.

     DS 2: Yes, ma'am?
     CAPTAIN: You're not a full-fledged member of Galactor yet.
But a child of a Galactor can never leave the organization, in
order to protect Galactor's secrets. Use the techniques you
learned from your mother to kill Gatchaman! (4) If one part of
the plan fails, forget about it and go on to the next step.

The Devil Stars launch. Ken sees them.

     KEN: Here they come!

The Captain knocks Ken out with the butt of her gun. The Devil
Stars land on the trestle and begin setting up a bomb. Outside,
the Science Ninja Team.

     JINPEI: Aniki was right to be worried. It's a good thing we
set up a lookout here. All right, here I come!

Devil Star 2 lights the fuse and tosses it over the side. (5) She
and the other Devil Stars escape. Jinpei opens his buggy and
leans out.

     JINEPI: I'm not going to let you get away with this! (he
throws his bolos at the fuse, putting it out.) This is Jinpei.
Onechan! Galactor's heading your way!
     JUN: Roger!

After Jinpei leaves, the fuse comes to life again. Meanwhile, the
Captain shoots a hole in the floor next to Ken and starts shoving
him out. Ken comes to. She kicks him, but he grabs onto the
traincar on the other side. (6)

     KEN: You bitch!
     CAPTAIN: None of you are any use to us. It's Nambu we want. 

The pin connecting the cars breaks. The other cars separate from
the front one at high speed. Then the trestle under the other
cars explodes. Inside, the people in the front car all turn out
to be Galactors, and point guns at Nambu.

     NAMBU: You're all Galactors!
     CAPTAIN (coming back into the car): That's right, Dr. Nambu.
We're taking you to hell by express train! All it would take is a
single pull of one of my men's fingers, and you would be dead.
But that would be terribly dull, don't you think? Please, sit
down. I'll be your guide as far as the entrance of hell.
     NAMBU: You murdered all those people to get to me?...
     CAPTAIN: It couldn't be helped-- you're a very suspicious
man. Oh, and in case I forgot to mention, this traincar has no
one driving it.
     NAMBU: You even killed the *engineers?*

The lights go out.

     CAPTAIN: Well, it seems my men haven't figured out how to
operate the train yet. I'm terribly sorry, Doctor.

The lights come back on. She looks back at Nambu-- who isn't
there. Ken sits in his chair, in Bird Style.

     CAPTAIN: Ah! Gatchaman!
     KEN: Galactor! You're the ones riding the express train to
hell!

The Captain leaps out of the way. Ken blocks her escape.

     KEN: Go ahead and shoot! In an enclosed space like this, all
you'll do is kill each other.

He goes into action, taking out several Galactors. Meanwhile, Jun
is fighting Devil Stars with her motorcycle. She takes out two.
Two more stop on the trestle and blow themselves up.

     JUN: Oh, how awful. They had to complete their mission, even
if it meant killing themselves. 

She sees the train approaching, and gasps. The Captain and Ken
are facing each other on the top, and the Devil Star approaches
above them.

     CAPTAIN: (laughs) Take a good look, Gatchaman! There's the
entrance to hell! Sink into the bottomless depths with Dr. Nambu!

She throws aside her clothes, revealing the purple bodysuit, and
leaps into Devil Star. (7) Then the train goes over the side.
Jinpei and Jun pull up to the edge of the trestle, horrified, but
then the body of the God Phoenix surfaces, with Ken, Ryu, and Dr.
Nambu in the top dome.

     RYU: Whew! Just in the nick of time!
     JUN (relieved): Good. It all went according to plan.
     JINPEI: What're you talking about? One got away!

Devil Star 2 flees. Joe, in Bird Style, blocks her route. She
stands up to throw a rose at him. 

JOE: {Just like Ken predicted.} That rose-- that rose killed my
parents!

He hurls a feather shuriken at her. It intercepts her rose and
pins it to her, landing in her heart. As she passes Joe, her mask
falls off, and we see that she is the girl Joe picked up at the
racetrack.

     DS 2: Why? Why can't the child of a Galactor ever escape
Galactor? I was so looking forward to the race tomorrow...

Her rose blows up and kills her. At the God Phoenix, everyone out
of Bird Style.

     JOE: Well, I gotta go. 
     JINPEI: What for? Huh? Why can't you go with us?
     JOE: I made somebody a promise.
     JUN: Joe acts so strange sometimes.
     KEN: Don't worry about it. The case is closed. Let him go.
     RYU: There's one thing I don't understand, though. How did
he know to show up?
     JUN: Yes. (suspiciously) Ken?
     KEN (looking at the sky) Ah-- uh-- well, *I* don't know. He
*is* a member of the Science Ninja Team, you know-- guess he had
a hunch. Anyway, let's go.

Joe sits at the racetrack, watching the cars go by. No girls turn
up.

     NARR: Thus Galactor's attempt to assassinate Dr. Nambu ended
in failure. And now, appreciating the casual gestures of Ken's
friendship, Joe has come to the racetrack for his date with the
girl he met yesterday. But Joe doesn't know... however long he
waits, she will not come. 
     Condor Joe! Throw away the sorrows of your past and fight!

Notes: This episode, while less choppy than the mangled BOTP
version, has some amazing holes in it (such as that Joe and the
girl never exchange names? such as that Nambu, after having
suffered an attempt on his life, is still turning down an offer
to be transported by the KNT? and how did the woman captain get
on the roof anyway without Ken stopping her?) I had originally
thought this to be one of the series' best episodes, despite the
horrendous art, but that was when I was assuming the plot holes
were cleared up by the dialogue (which really was outrageously
bad, even for Gatchaman. Express train to hell?) I was actually
quite disappointed once I'd finished the translation. On the
other hand, this *is* an important episode, as far as continuity
is concerned, and so it's important to have it translated anyway.
     1. No mention here of the fact that Devil Star 2 tried
already and failed. I think the BOTP version, where Mala chews
her out, works better.
     2. Brilliant move, Nambu. This doesn't make much sense,
either. Why doesn't he have the Science Ninja Team take him, and
meet the investigator there?
     3. One wonders-- since we know this is what the woman
captain really looks like, we know she's not disguised as a
private secretary. Does Anderson actually *have* a private
secretary? If so, Nambu ought to have seen her before. And if he
*doesn't*-- assuming there is no red tide, and Katse made the
call imitating Anderson's voice-- why doesn't Nambu know Anderson
doesn't have one? Pretty trusting on Nambu's part.
     4. According to some sources, her mother killed Joe's
parents.
     5. If this woman is only a provisional Galactor, why is it
she got sent on the initial mission to take Nambu out and was
forgiven her failure, holds a conversation with the Captain, when
all the others keep their mouths shut, and gets to be in charge
of lighting the fuse? Perhaps, if her mother *did* kill Joe's
parents, her mother was a personal friend or at least close
associate of Katse's, and so the Captain expects a lot from her?
     6. This is a very inconvenient way to kill someone. Why
didn't she shoot him first? Especially if she did suspect who he
was? 
     7. This action ought to have been a dead giveaway to her
identity-- she does it exactly the way we've seen Katse do it.Script: Gatchaman I #39 & #40                Jigokiller, the People-Eating
Plant 

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers 

PT I      Aboard DEVIL STAR.

     GALACTOR CAPTAIN: Katse-sama, we're entering the Earth's gravity well.
What should we do now? 
     KATSE: All right, release the capsules! This will be Galactor's
present to the people of Earth! 
     
The capsules are released, and flowers descend to Earth. Katse laughs. 

     KATSE: People of the Earth, accept our present with best wishes. 

On Earth, in a park. 

     NARRATOR: 24 hours later, bizarre incidents have begun to occur
everywhere. 
     MAN: What's this stuff? 
     WOMAN: Oh, what kind of flowers are these? Aren't they pretty? 
     
We see the flowers grow in response to rain and start attacking women.

     NARR: A series of mysterious incidents took place. All of them
happened at night, and moreover, all of the victims were young women. 

At the Snack J. It's raining outside. 

     JOE: Looks like those weird incidents are only happening to women. 
     JUN: That's too bad. Nowadays young women don't want to go out
anymore, so nobody comes here to eat. 
     JINPEI: Hey, it's no problem as far as I'm concerned. That way I won't
have to do dishes. 
     JUN: Jinpei, if you don't like it you can always go live someplace
else.
     JINPEI: Huh! If I left, who would you get to do the cooking? 
     JUN: I can cook! 
     JINPEI: All you can cook are TV dinners! 
     JUN: I *beg* your pardon? 
     JINPEI: You can't do any of the things girls're supposed to! 
     KEN: Stop arguing, you two. Go outside and cool down. (Looks outside--
it's raining badly) All the murders have taken place in this kind of
weather. 
     RYU: Hey, Ken, it's not our problem. Leave it to the cops.
     KEN: Yeah, I guess you're right. See you later! 
     JUN: What are you leaving so soon for? (she leaps over the counter) 
     JINPEI: (pushing open the counter door) We have an exit! Why don't you
use it! 
     JUN: It's still raining, Ken. 
     KEN: I'm going out to patrol the city. See if I can find anything out
about these incidents. (He leaves, and looks down at the flower by the
door.) Jun, this is one weird flower you've got out here. 
     JUN: Take care, Ken! (His last comment sinks in.) I never planted any
flower outside.
     JINPEI: Of course she didn't. She never does anything a girl's
supposed to. 
     JUN: Jinpei! What was that? 
     JINPEI: Oh, nothing... 
     JOE (getting up) Well, I guess I'll go patrol the city, too. 
     RYU: Me, too. 
     JINPEI: Hey! Wait up! 
     JUN: Jinpei! 
     JINPEI: What are you so upset about? It's not like it's a busy day or
anything. Why don't you let me go? 
     JUN: What about the dishes? 
     JINPEI: Do them yourself. You'll never get a husband if you don't
learn to do dishes. (He leaves.) 
     JUN: That little brat is really full of himself, isn't he. (As she
works, the door opens behind her.) Jinpei, is that you? Hurry up and shut
the door! The rain will get in! 

It's not Jinpei. Jun has a battle with the giant plant that attacks her.
She defeats it and escapes. Back at ISO, Nambu shows slides. 

     NAMBU: These are the cells of the creature that attacked Jun. It seems
like a plant, but... 
     KEN: Oh, I forgot Jun was a woman. I guess we didn't have to go out
patrolling after all. (1)
     JUN: You four really went out "patrolling" so you could have fun,
didn't you. 
     JINPEI: No! We really went out patrolling in the rain! You don't have
any faith in us, do you? (Sees slide) What's that? 
     NAMBU: This is a picture Jun drew of the creature that attacked her. 
     JINPEI: It's really lousy. What's it of? An octopus? 
     JUN: You shut up, Jinpei! I'm sorry it's a bad picture! (Nambu changes
slides) 
     KEN: What's that? 
     NAMBU: This is a picture someone conceived of a prehistoric plant, the
Jigokiller. It looks very like Jun's picture. 
     RYU: The Jigokiller? 
     NAMBU: Yes. It was a plant that lived before the dawn of humanity, a
carnivorous flower. It ate dinosaurs, so unlike normal carnivorous plants,
that only eat insects, we could say it truly ate meat. 
     JINPEI: I get it! The reason the creature's only attacking women is
because women are as stupid as dinosaurs! (Jun hits him hard, and
deservedly so.) 
     KEN: But why couldn't we find those huge creatures anywhere near where
Jun was attacked? 
     NAMBU: Unfortunately, we don't know as of yet. In fact, scientists
have not yet been able to solve the mysteries surrounding this plant, the
Jigokiller. 
     RYU: That's awful. If they can't solve it, there won't be any girls
left on Earth. 
     JINPEI: But are you so sure that would be a problem? Then there would
be no girls like Jun anymore! 
     RYU: No, because then I won't have any future wife. 
     NAMBU: (holding a transparent skin-like membrane off a mannequin)
Well, we can't give the entire female sex this protection to wear. 
     JUN: What is it? 
     NAMBU: This is a deep-sea capsule membrane. It can bear any kind of
pressure. 
     
Later, Jun is about to drive out into the rain. Jinpei tries to persuade
her to stop. 

     JINPEI: Don't go, one-chan. Where're you going to go in the middle of
this storm, anyway? 
     JUN: I'm going to catch a Jigokiller. 
     JINPEI: Why don't we all go? You're a woman, you shouldn't be doing
this by yourself!   
     JUN: No, no. Jigokillers hate men. This is my job. I'll be all right,
I'm wearing the deep-sea capsule. 
     JINPEI: Huh! You stole it from Dr. Nambu, didn't you? 
     JUN: Don't look at it like that. I'm doing an experiment for Dr.
Nambu. 
     
She takes off. Jinpei watches her. 
     
     JINPEI: I've gotta look after her. (He follows in buggy.) 
     
Jun gets plucked off her motorcycle by Jigokiller, which tries to pull her
in. Jinpei, following, gets his buggy smashed. He is helpless to save her. 

     JUN: Somebody! (to plant) Let me go! (she gets pulled in, kicking and
screaming) 
     JINPEI: Onechan! (to plant) Give her back! Give me back my older
sister! 
     
The next day, in sunlight, the male members of the Science Ninja Team look
at the scene of the incident. 

     RYU: Where's the red demon plant, then? 
     JINPEI: When I woke up, it wasn't there. 
     JOE: Sure it wasn't a dream, Jinpei? 
     KEN: No, Jinpei's story is probably true. Something powerful damaged
Jun's motorcycle and his buggy. 
     JINPEI: That's right! The flower's tentacles were really really big
and strong! 
     RYU: Flowers don't move. 
     JINPEI: But it did! And it swallowed Jun! 
     JOE: You believe him, Ken? 
     KEN: Well, Jun *is* missing. 
     JINPEI: You *have* to believe me! It's true! 
     JOE: (to Ken, who is looking at something) What's wrong? 
     RYU: That's a strange flower. 
     KEN: I saw the same kind of flower in front of Jun's shop. 
     
The Galactor captain is talking to Katse via holocrystal. 
     
     KATSE: What?? A woman that the Jigokiller couldn't kill? 
     CAPTAIN: Yes, she's still alive inside the flower. 
     KATSE: That's ridiculous. There isn't any woman a Jigokiller can't
eat. 
     CAPTAIN: But, we can't leave her in the flower... 
     KATSE: This is very significant. Leave her there and see what happens.
     CAPTAIN: Ah-- but-- 
     KATSE: Is there something else? 
     CAPTAIN: It looks like her male friends have picked one of the flowers
from the ground. 
     KATSE: You fool! Catch those men! If they contact the Science Ninja
Team, what do you think would happen to us? 
     CAPTAIN: Yes, sir. 
     
Aboard DEVIL STAR, Katse breaks transmission. 

     KATSE: That damned fool! 

He presses a button to contact a Galactor.

     GAL 1: Did you call, sir? 
     KATSE: Release the Jigokillers again! Location point PS! 
     GAL 1: Yes, sir. 

Ken on a motorcycle, everybody else in a car. Ken stops. 

     JOE: What's wrong, Ken? 
     KEN: Something wrong with my bike. I've gotta fix it. You take the
flower to Dr. Nambu, I'll come when I can. 
     JOE: Okay, see you later! 
     
They drive off. Ken looks back toward approaching Galactors. 

     KEN: {Sorry about this, Joe, but I'll take care of this myself.} (He
drives off, leading the Galactors) 
     GAL 2: Don't let him get away! 
     KEN: Following, huh? 
     
When the Galactors arrive at Ken's chosen battleground, he is in Bird
Style, standing by a tree. 

     GAL 2: Gatchaman! 
     KEN: Whenever the helpless citizens of Earth are in danger. Whenever
the evil of Galactor brings them terror, the white wings appear. 
     GAL 2: Brat, you've walked right into our hands. Shoot him to pieces! 
     KEN: You've got a lot of guts. You think you can take one of my
feathers back to Berg Katse, so he'll be pleased with you? 

We do not actually see the battle, just its aftermath-- a lot of Galactor
bodies draped all over the place. 

     NARR.: Though Dr. Nambu continues to study the plant they took from
the ground, he has not yet solved the mystery of the Jigokiller. Meanwhile,
the Science Ninja Team are searching for the missing Jun.
     
Ken is in his plane. His bracelet beeps at him. 

     KEN: Yes, this is Gatchaman. What is it, Doctor? 
     NAMBU: This is an emergency, Gatchaman! Come to Mammoth Reservoir
immediately!
     KEN: Roger!  (Flying, he notices that the ground is entirely covered
in Jigokillers.) Wh-- what the? (He lands and goes to speak to Nambu. The
rest of the team are also there.) Doctor... 
     NAMBU: As you see, all the Jigokillers have moved here. 
     RYU: Looks like an ocean of blood. 
     JINPEI: If these flowers kill all the women, what's going to happen to
the Earth? 
     KEN: We're very fortunate that the flowers have all gathered in one
place. Let's cut their roots and get rid of them, Doctor. 
     NAMBU: We can't. Cutting their roots won't do us any good. 
     JOE: So why don't we just drop a lot of weed-killer from the air? We
could get'em all!
     NAMBU: Do you realize where the Jigokillers are gathered? This is very
near Mammoth Reservoir! The reservoir is the water supply for ten million
people. We can't pollute it with weed-killing chemicals! 
     JOE: Shit! Why'd they have to pick *here?*
     KEN: That's the way Galactor works. Maybe they're off laughing at us
right now. 
     RYU: But what're we gonna do, then? 
     NAMBU: Burn them all. (There is a shocked silence) We don't know the
Jigokiller's exact weaknesses, so this is the only way. 
     JINPEI: No! We can't do that-- onechan is in one of those flowers! 
     NAMBU: What? 
     KEN: That's what Jinpei believes. 
     JINPEI: I saw that flower swallow onechan up. She's still alive! She
was wearing the protective membrane you had, Doctor. She's still alive!
Really! 
     NAMBU: But how are you going to find Jun in all these hundreds of
thousands of flowers? You'd never be able to do it. And if we don't burn
these immediately, they'll produce many more flowers. 
     
In the flower Jun's in. Her hand is trapped outside the Jigokiller. 

     JUN: {Ken! Ken, save me! If I could only get my left hand free, I
could use the bracelet to call Ken!} 
     
Back at Mammoth. 

     RYU: Shit! I can't do it! I can't kill Jun! 
     JOE: I'm with Ryu. I know ten million people are in danger-- but Jun's
our teammate!
     KEN (very quietly) All right. You guys don't have to have anything to
do with it. I'll take care of this myself. 
     
Joe slugs him. 
     
     JOE: You inhuman *bastard!* You want to kill your teammate yourself! 
     KEN: {I'm the leader of the Science Ninja Team. Whatever you can't
do... I must take on myself.} 
     
In his plane, Ken imagines Jun. 

     KEN: Jun! 
     JUN: Ken! Ken! Ken.... Ken! 
     KEN: Jun, forgive me. This is our duty, to protect the people. We must
protect the Earth... even if it means throwing away a teammate's life.
Farewell, Jun. All I can do is use my own plane's fuel to burn you.... 

He releases the fuel onto the flowers. 

     KEN: Dr. Nambu, it's all ready. I'm going to fire the Jigokillers! 
     JOE: No, we'll do it!  (Joe and others are aboard the GOD PHOENIX) 
     KEN: Joe! 
     JOE: You shouldn't have to suffer alone. I can't bear that. 
     RYU: That's right. It's our job to take care of our own teammate's
funeral pyre. 
     JOE: Ken, get away. I'm firing a Bird Missile! (2)
     
The bird missile sets fire to the Jigokillers. 

     JINPEI: Onechan, please stay alive! I'll never bust your chops again!
I won't say anything! Just, please, be alive... 
     
Aboard DEVIL STAR. 

     KATSE: Did you say the GOD PHOENIX fired the Jigokillers? (laughs)
Nambu, you fool! Did you think you could destroy the Jigokillers that way? 
     
White flowers fly on the wind from the flames. 

     NARR: The deep red fire has changed the Jigokillers back to their
original white flower form, and the wind carries the flowers away, to
attack somewhere else. Neither the Gatchaman team nor Dr. Nambu know the
secret of the Jigokillers, yet. Nor do they know Jun's fate... 

Ken, thinking of Jun. 

     KEN: Jun!!

PT. II 

Jinpei is sitting at the counter of the Snack J, looking into a puddle of
water on the counter. He imagines Jun. 
     
     JINPEI: Onechan... 
     JUN: Hey, Jinpei, let's dance! 
     JINPEI: Onechan... onechan... I remember when we met the first time...
you found me, an' took care of me, 'cause we were both orphans... 

Outside the J, Ryu and Joe. 

     RYU: I'm gonna go in and talk to the poor kid. 
     JOE: Leave him alone. It's better for him to be alone now. 
     RYU: Yeah, that's what you say, but Jun was like a real sister to him.

     JOE: So if he's sad, he should hate Galactor. It can make him forget
his grief-- (Joe turns away quickly)-- works for me.
     RYU (to himself): Huh! Sometimes I just can't understand that guy. 
     KEN: (coming up to where the others are) I did the wrong thing. 
     RYU: Ken? 
     KEN: I should've gone and found Jun then. 
     RYU: Ken, there wasn't anything you could do. There wasn't anything
you could do! 
     KEN: Some justice! I couldn't save just one person's life! I really
hate being in the Science Ninja Team now! 
     RYU: What're you saying, Ken? Do you really mean it? 
     KEN: If I hadn't been a member of the Science Ninja Team, I could've
saved Jun! (3)
     RYU: Even though you'd be ignoring the ten million? 
     KEN: There are other groups out there to rescue the ordinary people--
like the police, the ISO... Why is it just us who have to suffer? Why is it
just us who have to sacrifice our friends? 
     RYU: Ken, you can't blame yourself! 
     KEN: Jun and Jinpei adopted each other as siblings, because they were
orphans together, and they lived together like a real family. But then I...

     RYU: Is this the end of the Science Ninja Team? Seems like we're
falling apart. 
     
At ISO. 

     NAMBU: You came to see me? Look here. (Gestures at a Jigokiller in a
tank of water) Can you believe this is the same tiny plant you brought me?
The Jigokiller grows in the dark and in water, but the sun causes it to
shrink again. 
     JINPEI (listlessly): Yeah, that's even more amazing than us
transmuting. 
     NAMBU (rather enthusiastically) You know sea monkeys? They stay in the
egg, until the right circumstances lead them to hatch. It's the same with
the Jigokiller. A long time ago, before the birth of humanity, was the age
of nothing but thunder and rain. Perhaps these flowers existed at that time
in a much larger form. When the sun came, the Jigokiller  shrank to
conserve its energy. And then it would turn itself into a hard, dry seed to
protect it from the sun, and in that form it would sleep for ages. 
     KEN: But why does the Jigokiller only attack women? 
     NAMBU: We don't know yet. Once we learn that, we'll be able to solve
the entire problem. 
     RYU: But didn't we already destroy all the Jigokillers? 
     JOE: Yeah. We haven't heard of any Jigokiller attacks since then. 
     NAMBU: No, the Jigokillers survived. Our last plan to burn the flowers
was only to avoid the flowers' reproducing. 
     KEN: So if the Jigokillers survived, what did we kill Jun for?! 
     NAMBU: Do you still believe Jun was in one of the flowers? 
     
Ken walks out, followed by Joe and Jinpei. 

     NAMBU: What's wrong? Ken! Joe! Jinpei! 
     RYU: It's too late, Doctor. They think they killed Jun. Besides, we...

     NAMBU: You what? Why won't you believe me? The membrane I made could
bear any amount of heat and pressure. Even if Jun had been in one of the
flowers, she should have survived. 

The new crop of flowers spreads and causes chaos.

     NARR: The Science Ninja Team's plan to burn the flowers sent a swarm
of spores into the air. These spores are now breeding in Weedy City, which
has the most extensive set of aqueducts in the world.

Jigokillers causing mass destruction. Nambu attempts to contact Ken.

     NAMBU: This is Nambu. G-1, respond. (pause) This is Nambu. Gatchaman,
respond!

Ken ignores him, gets up and leaves his bracelet behind. 

     NAMBU: Ken! What's wrong? Why aren't you answering? Ken! Ken! Ken!
What's wrong? Answer me! Ken, *answer* me! KEN! 
     
At the J, the team sans Ken are watching the news. Ken walks in in the
middle. 

     NEWS: It had seemed as if ISO had successfully destroyed the
Jigokillers, but today they reappeared, and began destroying the city. So
the citizens have almost-- 
     KEN: Turn it off. 
     RYU: Ken! 
     JOE: What's wrong? I heard you didn't answer a call from Dr. Nambu... 
     KEN: I knew what he wanted me to do. He was going to say I had to go
into the city. If you want to go, you can-- I'm not going to. 
     RYU: But you're our leader! 
     KEN: I'm a human being, and I don't want to lose any more friends! 
     RYU: I never even guessed... Okay, Ken. Do what you want. 
     
At Ken's home, there's an intruder outside. 

     KEN: Who's there? (Red Impulse reveals himself) Red Impulse!
     RI: Coward! Tell me what the Science Ninja Team is! What does it mean,
to be Gatchaman! 
     KEN: Leave me alone. You'll never understand how I feel. 
     RI: You're right, I'll never understand. I'm a man, not a spoiled
woman like you! (4)
     KEN: What?? (He runs at RI) 
     RI: Oh, so you've still got some anger left in you? (He proceeds to
beat the crap out of Ken.) Why do you feel so guilty about killing a
friend? I threw away my best friends, and many comrades' lives. Sometimes
there's no other way. It's a dirty job, but we have to protect the Earth
from Galactor! There's no proof Jun's dead. Why don't you try to find her?
If she's dead, find her body and bury her at least. If she's alive, then
she's in trouble and can't contact you. Search everywhere for her! That's
what it means to be a friend! 
     
RI leaves, and Ken's bracelet starts beeping at him. 

     KEN: That's-- Bird Scramble! Jun! Jun, it's me! Ken! (He looks up,
full of hope) Jun's alive! 
     
At ISO. 

     NAMBU: Did you say Bird Scramble?
     KEN: Yes! And it wasn't just me-- Joe, Ryu and Jinpei picked it up,
too! 
     NAMBU (musingly): The Bird Scramble code is for when a team member
can't talk, to activate the bracelet. They press the bracelet hard, and
that generates a signal. But it could be a trick. 
     KEN: A trick? 
     NAMBU: Perhaps I'm being paranoid-- but if Galactor got the bracelet
and didn't know how to use it, and they pressed it, it would make the same
signal. 
     KEN: Let us go, Doctor! Even if it *is* a trick, that's the only thing
we can do! 
     NAMBU: All right! Launch the God Phoenix! 
     
Aboard RI's plane, as the God Phoenix takes off. 

     RI: Glad to see you woke up, Ken. Go! Strike at Galactor! 
     
A burning city. 

     NARR: The Science Ninja Team have launched at last. But since the
Jigokillers first attacked Weedy City, it has become a city of death. The
flowers in Weedy are being destroyed by the UN forces. But when the
Jigokillers are changed back to their white flower form by fire, they
spread, and then the rain makes them grow again, so there's nothing anyone
can do to stop them permanently. The people are being forced to destroy
their own cities in order to get rid of the Jigokillers. 
     
In the city. 

     JINPEI: Oh, I can't bear to look at it! They're destroying their own
city themselves!
     JOE: That's what Galactor's trying for. They don't want to waste their
own energy destroying the cities when the people will do it for them. 
     KEN: It's surprising that Galactor hasn't shown up to take the credit
for all this. (5)
     RYU: Ken, what should we do now? 
     KEN: Leave the Jigokillers and let's find Galactor's main base. 
     JOE: But where should we look? 
     KEN: I'll bet you anything the base is in this city. Let's go out and
search.  Maybe we'll pick up a signal from Jun. 
     
In the Galactor base. 

     GAL 3: Captain, it looks like the city's almost destroyed. 
     CAPTAIN: We've never had such an easy job of it before. All we did was
find a seed underground, and we terrified the whole world with it. (Katse
comes in on the holocube) Ah-- Katse-sama! 
     KATSE: Captain, what's happened to the woman you told me about before?

     CAPTAIN: Ah, her. She was wearing a strong protective membrane. 
     KATSE: A protective membrane? 
     CAPTAIN: She survived even Nambu's fire, so I brought her here. 
     KATSE: Good. Study that membrane! It might prove very useful to the
Jigokiller project! 
     CAPTAIN: What should we do about the woman? 
     KATSE: Likely she's an ISO spy, and we'll never get anything out of
her. Kill her!      
     CAPTAIN: Yes, sir! 
     
In a destroyed area. 

     JINPEI: Huh? This used to be the subway? 
     KEN: It took humanity such a long time to build this... and it took
such a short time to destroy it. 
     JINPEI: (referring to the Jigokiller he's sitting next to) I know this
plant won't do anything to guys, but I still feel funny sitting near it. 
     JOE: Ken, do you still think it was a contact from Jun? 
     KEN: Uh-huh. 
     JOE: Like Dr. Nambu said, it could be a trick. What would you do then?

     KEN: Jun's alive. If it were a Galactor trap, they'd already have
attacked us. 
     
Nambu, standing over the Jigokiller tank. 

     NAMBU: I don't understand. I've used every kind of poison I can think
of, but it's no use. What's the Jigokiller's weakness? (At this point, he
cuts himself on the rusty railing around the tank. He binds up his finger
with the handkerchief in his vest pocket, and a few drops of blood fall
into the tank. Suddenly, the Jigokiller begins to writhe and thrash.)
What's happening? (The Jigokiller withers up and dies.) It's dead. The
Jigokiller's dead! (Remembers the drop of blood) Blood-- my blood caused
the Jigokiller to die? That's it! That's why the Jigokiller never attacks
men! Why couldn't I see such a simple thing? (He laughs.) (6)
     
At the Galactor base. The Galactors are on a balcony, ranged around. Jun is
strapped into a woman-sized depression on a table, and there is a spiked
platform over her head. 
     
     CAPTAIN: Watch, and I'll show you men something interesting. This is
our terrifying death machine, Devil's Claw! (Jun writhes, tries to escape,
and sends a frantic Bird Scramble as the platform starts to lower) You
tried to discover the secret of the Jigokiller, and so you must die! The
claws will descend and pierce your body. Enjoy the experience as you slowly
die! 
     
With the team. 

     KEN: There it is! A bird scramble! Joe!
     JOE: We start now, Ken? 
     JINPEI: Onechan! 
     KEN: Return to the God Phoenix, pronto! Science Ninja Team, go! 
     
Aboard God Phoenix. This is interspersed with scenes of Jun struggling
futilely to avoid her fate. 

     JOE: Ken! It's close by! Northeast 4 km! 
     KEN: All right, Ryu! After it! 
     JOE: They're hidden in the aqueduct! 
     
The God Phoenix smashes into the Galactor base and knocks Devil's Claw out
of alignment just as it is about to stab Jun. 
     
     CAPTAIN: Who're you?! 
     KEN: We've finally found you, Galactor! The Science Ninja Team-- 
     CAPTAIN: *Gatchaman!*
     KEN: Let's go! 
     
Ken, Joe, and Jinpei beat up on Galactors, while Ryu goes and frees Jun. 

     RYU: Jun! 
     JUN: Ryu! 
     RYU: Hang on, I'll have you out in a second! (Some Galactors attack
him) Whaddya want, you bastards? (He beats them, then frees Jun) 
     JUN: Ryu! Ryu! (Now free, she leaps and changes to Bird Style) Bird,
Go! 
     
Ken corners the trembling captain. 
     
     KEN: You've bothered us a hell of a lot, but you're just a tiny insect
after all. 
     CAPTAIN: You-- 
     
Ken punches the captain in the stomach, and he collapses. Jun comes up to
Ken.
     
     JUN: Ken! 

Ken slaps her. 

     KEN: You're not allowed to take on operations by yourself. 
     JINPEI: Aniki's not being honest about his feelings. Why doesn't he
hug her? 
     RYU: That's a bad joke. 
     
In Nambu's office. 

     NAMBU: This is Nambu. Ken, is that you? 
     KEN: We rescued Jun, Dr. Nambu. 
     NAMBU: Oh, you did? Wonderful. Now I have a complete solution to the
problem of the Jigokiller's destruction. The reason the Jigokiller doesn't
attack men is very simple: there is something poisonous to the Jigokiller
in the male body. 
     JINPEI (examining himself) Huh? Poison inside us? 
     NAMBU: In our chromosomes. Women have two X chromosomes only. Men have
an X and a Y. The Jigokiller doesn't mind the X, but the Y sets off a
destructive reaction. I have asked the International Genetics Laboratories
to make a bomb out of Y chromosomes. Red Impulse is heading for the city
you're in with the bomb. It's only a matter of time before the Jigokiller
is entirely destroyed. (7)
     
Under the onslaught of Red Impulse's bombs, the Jigokillers die. 

     KEN: Look! The Jigokillers are dying! 
     JUN: If we could only have found the answer sooner, the cities
wouldn't have been destroyed. 
     RYU: The water color's changing. That's the end of the Jigokillers. 
     JINPEI: Hey, there's Red Impulse! 
     KEN: I can't think of him the same way as of other people. 
     JOE: What happened? 
     KEN: Oh, nothing. He just slugged me. 
     
     Notes: 

     1) Ken "forgot Jun was a woman"-- I just bet Jun loved that.
     2) How is he going to fire a Bird Missile when he hasn't got the whole
God Phoenix assembled? Or does that only apply to Ultra Bird Missiles?
     3) No-- if he hadn't been a member of the Science Ninja Team, he'd
have as much hope of rescuing Jun as any of the lovers and friends of the
Jigokiller victims had of rescuing *them.*
     4) After this line, I was almost glad RI dies.
     5) Yeah, it *is* surprising. As a terrorist organization, Galactor's
objective is not actually to cause destruction, but to cause fear. They can
do this more effectively if people know they're responsible. When were they
planning to come forward and make demands?
     6) If they've known all this time that Jigokillers don't kill men, why
wasn't the first test they did feeding a Jigokiller male blood and seeing
what its reaction was?
     7) I'm sorry, but as a budding scientist I find this explanation
laughable. In the first place, the Y chromosome is very small-- the idea
that it could be acutely poisonous to anything is pretty funny. Secondly,
how does the Jigokiller know there's a Y present? Smell? So little of the
Ninja Team's bodies are exposed when they're in costume that the amount of
Y chromosome in the air around them has got to be negligible. Thirdly, the
most ridiculous thing is that over 90% of blood has no chromosomes in it!
The idea that the Y chromosomes in the maybe 2 or 3 white blood cells in a
drop of Nambu's blood could kill this thing is hysterical! I much prefer
the notion that it's somehow the male hormone that's poisonous to
Jigokiller. Females produce a negligible amount of male hormone (most
females, at least), so the plant could pick on them, and male hormone would
be present in Nambu's blood. The problem is that, in the first place,
females do produce at least as much male hormone as would be found in a
drop of blood, and in the second place, Jinpei is not yet a
male-hormone-producing machine, either. A possibility is that large
concentrations of female hormones cancel out the dangerous effects of small
quantities of male hormone-- there wasn't enough female hormone in Jinpei's
body or Nambu's blood to negate the effects of the male hormone present. A
point in favor of this explanation is that the victims, according to the
narrator, are all *young* women, who presumably have peak levels of female
hormone. Of course, the whole idea that such a superb predator would evolve
with such a glaring flaw is pretty ridiculous, too. I'd much rather believe
Galactor genetically engineered the thing, because the idea that a plant
would evolve to specifically pick on one sex is ludicrous. However, so's
the Solar Shift Plan, so I guess we just live with it. 
Script: Gatchaman I ep. #51        Cataroller, the Rolling Monster

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

     NARR: The Science Ninja Team received an alert, and all of them, G-1
through G-5, flew to ISO headquarters in Bird Style.

In Nambu's office.

     NAMBU: That was fast. Good work, team. It only took you 18 minutes to
get here.
     KEN: Doctor, it's Galactor, isn't it. Please hurry and give us your
orders.
     JINPEI: Yeah, I had to miss my anime program to come here, so hurry
up!
     NAMBU: All right. Science Ninja Team, you are to go to the Republic of
Huntwall.
     KEN: And our purpose is--?
     NAMBU: Ah-- a vacation, actually.
     EVERYONE: A vacation!
     NAMBU: Every once in a while you need to relax a bit. Go sightseeing,
enjoy yourself.
     JINPEI: Yay! You're a mindreader, Doctor!
     RYU: I wanna go bathing in hot springs to get rid of my water eczema.
     NAMBU: But you must keep it absolutely secret that you're the Science
Ninja Team.
     KEN, JOE, JUN AND RYU: Roger!
     JINPEI: Leisure!

In Huntwall, Jun and Jinpei are playing in the water, and Joe and Ryu are
riding water bikes, while Ken sits in a chair on the shore.

     NARR: It has been said that Huntwall is the most beautiful, peaceful
country in the world. The Science Ninja Team are enjoying themselves on
vacation, here at the capital of the Republic of Huntwall, while
maintaining their true identities secret.
     RYU: Ken! This's fun, come on!
     JOE: Leave him alone, Ryu. Let's go.
     RYU: Okay.
     
They paddle off.

     KEN: {This lake... I've seen it before, I think. It's beautiful. When
will the whole world be as peaceful as this country? As long as Galactor
exists, true peace can never come about... But why did the Doctor send us
on vacation? Something's wrong...}
     
A gentleman in a white suit comes up behind Ken.

     WHITE-SUITED MAN: It's beautiful. A truly beautiful country.
     KEN: Hm?
     WS: But all the beauty, all the peace, are only on the surface. (seems
to notice Ken) Hello. Looks like the five of you are enjoying yourselves.
     KEN: Yeah, me and my friends came for a vacation.
     WS: That's good. There's a lot of people who come here-- some good
people, and some... (sees someone approaching) bad.
     KEN: What's that supposed to mean?
     WS: (laughs) You'll see.

He is surrounded by thugs.
     
     THUG: Get ready.

Ken attacks the thugs in aid of the gentleman.

     KEN: Go on, run!
     WS: Thanks! (he makes his escape)
     THUG: Shit! What'd you have to interfere for?
     KEN: It's no fair beating up on one lone man. Who are you people?
     THUG (shows Ken a badge) We're the Huntwall secret police.
     KEN: What the--??

Ryu and Joe show up, ready to defend their commander.
     
     RYU: What's wrong?
     JOE: Is it a fight? I'll fight!
     THUG: Idiot! It's not a fight! Back off!

The captain of the secret police arrives.

     CAPTAIN: What're you doing?
     THUG: Ah-- captain!
     CAPTAIN: Where's that guy?
     THUG: He escaped in a boat, because these idiots interfered.
     CAPTAIN (sternly): You don't know what a mistake you've just made. I
work for the Defense Minister of Huntwall.
     KEN: The Defense Minister?-- So who was that gentleman who escaped?
     CAPTAIN: A Galactor. We almost had him, too.
     KEN: A Galactor! (to himself) That gentleman didn't seem like a
Galactor...
     CAPTAIN: Hey! Follow him! Hurry it!
     THUGS: Yes, sir!
     KEN: Galactor, in this peaceful country...

The Defense Minister is propped in a chair in his study, speaking to Berg
Katse via viewscreen.

     KATSE: What's wrong, Defense Minister? Did you catch the man we talked
about earlier?
     DM: My men are chasing him down. By the way, is the new monstermech
finished? We're almost done with the preparations.
     KATSE: Don't worry, it's all but done. Here, take a look at the
Cataroller. It's an amazingly powerful mecha-- it should have no trouble at
all defeating the President's army. What do you think? Are you impressed?
     DM: It's great. I can't wait to see the look on Mr. "Incorruptible"
President when he sees it. (1)
     KATSE: And we don't have to worry about the Science Ninja Team
interfering?
     DM: There's nothing to worry about. I've got a man in ISO, that I can
get information from. (laughs)
     KATSE: (laughs) Then don't let anybody find out.

The Captain of the secret police knocks on the Defense Minister's door.

     DM: Enter! (Captain does) What's happened with that man?
     CAPT: I'm sorry, sir. Some strange kid got in our way, and he escaped.
     DM: Fool! He's stolen our secrets!
     CAPT: Yes, sir. I swear he won't live to tell them.
     DM: Also. That strange kid might give us trouble. Find and eliminate
him.
     CAPT: Yes, sir.

The Science Ninja Team in various places.

     NARR: Galactor has infiltrated this beautiful, peaceful country. In
order to confirm this, the Gatchamen are patrolling in their various mecha.

Ryu and the GOD PHOENIX out in the middle of nowhere.

     RYU: My G-5's too big-- it'd stand out. I sort of resent the Doctor.

Ken is flying. Galactor fighter pilots pursue him.

     KEN: Ah-- Galactor! Did that man from before send them?
     GAL: Attack with rocket bombs!

Ken barely dodges.

     KEN: Persistent sons-of-bitches. I just wish I could transmute!

A red fighter plane shows up and makes short work of the Galactors.

     KEN: Wow. Who the hell was that? (the plane signals at him to follow)
All right, I'm following him.

They land. Ken climbs out, and a mysterious figure comes out of the other
plane, not fully revealed in the shadows.

     KEN: Thanks for saving my life. I'm grateful. (The man turns out to be
the white-suited gentleman) *You!*
     WS: We were a little on the obvious side yesterday, Gatchaman.
     KEN: Shut up, Galactor! Take *this!* (he runs at the man)
     WS: Are you going to try to attack me?
     KEN: Birdrang!

He throws the boomerang, but the man dodges it and leaps over the plane.
When he reemerges, it's dressed as the captain of Red Impulse.

     RI: You had to keep it a secret that you were of the Science Ninja
Team, I take it?
     KEN: Red Impulse!
     RI: It wasn't very nice of you to attack me after I saved your life.
Now our debt is paid.
     KEN: So then who were those guys?
     RI: They were the Defense Minister's dogs.
     KEN: They were Galactors?
     RI: Yes. This country has been taken over by Galactor.
     KEN: Is that it. That's why Dr. Nambu sent us here.
     RI: Yes, I asked him to. To deceive the enemy, sometimes we must
deceive our friends as well.
     KEN: Huh. That rotten Dr. Nambu. What a vacation!

In an abandoned lodge, Red Impulse and Ken talk by a fireplace.

     RI: ...Which means that the Defense Minister is working with Galactor
to try to kill the peace-loving President and take over Huntwall.
     KEN: But why doesn't the President do anything about it?
     RI: We haven't got a bit of hard evidence. (he grows pensive) I've
spent some ten-odd years trying to get that evidence. It's been my
lifework. To do it, I've abandoned my home, my wife... (turns aside in
sudden anguish) ...even my son!
     KEN: Where's your son now? Do you know?
     RI: Ah-- uh-- (bends his head) It was a tragic thing... (looks up
brightly) Well! That's enough of the depressing stories. Ken, I'm trying to
preserve Huntwall's peace and beauty. It's for Huntwall's sake that I
abandoned my son...
     KEN: I think I can understand. When I first came to Huntwall, it
reminded me of my childhood. I think I've been here before.
     RI: Ah-- (suddenly) hahahaha! That's funny, you know, you thinking I
was a Galactor. Well, before we go to work, let's get some sleep.

Red Impulse wakes up first, and looks on at the sleeping Ken.

     RI: Ken. You've grown up so well...

Ken dreams of his father, a big tall man with an infectious laugh, whose
face is blotted by the shadows of time. He remembers riding on his father's
shoulders, playing with an airplane on a stick. Then he remembers his
father motioning him to jump into a lake, to swim to him. Afraid, but
trustingly, little Ken jumps in and swims to the safety of his father, at
which point the man dunks him, and he cries out, struggling, as his father
laughs...
     Then Red Impulse's voice, oddly familiar, intrudes into the dream.

     RI: Ken! Ken! Hey, Ken, wake up! It's time!
     
Ken finally wakens, albeit groggily.

     KEN: Give me some time! We just went to bed!
     RI: Behave yourself! Wake up! Tonight's the night I'll finally get the
proof. Please help me!
     KEN (sitting up) Got it. You know, it's weird you should ask me like
that. I was having this dream about my father again, for the first time in
years, and then you woke me up.
     RI: And-- and what did he look like?
     KEN: It wasn't really clear enough for me to tell.
     RI: (relieved) Oh? That's too bad. But it's reasonable enough. You
were also separated from him when you were small.
     KEN: But I'm not bitter about it. Same as you, he had some reason. If
he didn't, he wouldn't've left me. (runs to the door) All right, let's get
going! To the Defense Minister's house!
     RI: {Ken.}

They sneak by water to the Defense Minister's house. Climbing onto the
roof, Ken's airtank clatters on the lip, alerting guards. Ken and Red
Impulse take out the guards, and change out of their scuba gear to their
usual costumes. They take out more guards along the way.

     GUARDS: Who is it? Who's there!
     RI: Let's go!

They come to a safe.

     RI: That's it! The proof should be in there. I've tried to get in here
before, but I never succeeded.
     KEN: So, tonight--
     RI: Yes. With your help, I'll succeed. Shall we risk our lives
together?

There is an explosion. Guards, the Captain we saw before, and the Defense
Minister all come out at the commotion.

     DM: What's going on? They tried to break open the safe?
     CAPTAIN: Yes, sir. Someone infiltrated.
     DM: Don't worry. An ordinary bomb can't damage this safe. (he opens
it, removes a box of cigars, then opens the false bottom of the cigar box
and takes out a microfilm) I thought someone might try something like this,
so I had the cameras trained here. This will show us clearly who tried to
break in.

Red Impulse leaps down from the chandelier, and Ken follows.

     RI: You won't see anything!
     CAPTAIN: It's him! Shoot him!
     
There is a fight.

     KEN: Birdrang!

He cuts down a chandelier, pinning their opponents and giving him and RI a
chance to get free. RI gives him the microfilm.

     RI: Gatchaman, this is the proof! Take it to the president!

They reach the roof, looking out over the water. Red Impulse jumps in, then
motions Ken to join him.

     RI: Okay, Ken! Jump into the water! Hurry!

But Ken flashes back to the dream, and the memory of his father motioning
him to jump, and the terror as he nearly drowned...

     RI: Ken, come on! Hurry!
     KEN: It's impossible, that the captain of Red Impulse...
     RI: What the hell are you waiting for? Come on!

Ken overcomes his fear and jumps. He rejoins Red Impulse as spotlights
flash on them, and guns fire.

     RI: We'll split up and get out of here. See you later, if we live.
Farewell!

They escape.

     CAPTAIN: Damn you, Gatchaman!

The Defense Minister talks to Katse on the viewscreen.

     KATSE: So Gatchaman's put in an appearance. My spies have just now
informed me.
     DM: My lord Katse, if they get the proof of my involvement with you to
the president, our long-term plans will be destroyed. What should I do?
     KATSE: No help for it. I'll have to send you our Cataroller.
     DM: How about tomorrow, at the president's birthday party?
     KATSE: Good. Don't lose this chance!
     DM: Yes, sir!

At the president's birthday party. This is obviously a big PR event, with
lots of food and cheering crowds.

     KIDS: Happy birthday, Mr. President! Happy birthday!

The Science Ninja Team are by the food. Jinpei is eating it.

     RYU: So that gentleman turned out to be the captain of Red Impulse!
     JINPEI: I thought there was something funny about "going on vacation".
     JUN: So Ken, why don't you go give the tape to the president?

The Cataroller appears. There is mass panic.

     KIDS: I'm scared! Run!
     KEN: Here they come. Listen up, everyone! Protect the president and
the children1
     JINPEI (who'd been about to bite into something tasty) Just my luck.

Katse stands on top of the Cataroller.

     KATSE: This country now belongs to us Galactors!
     ARMY MEN: It's Galactor! Fire!

The Galactors shoot down the army men.

     KATSE: Grab the president's house!

Arms come out of the Cataroller and do so. Katse laughs.

     KATSE: Now the president's going to be squashed like a toad!
     KEN: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched, Berg Katse!
     KATSE (startled) That voice-- it's--
     NINJA TEAM: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman!

They appear on the roof of the president's house.

     KEN: Don't gloat too soon. We've taken the president and the children
to safety by a secret underground route.
     JINPEI (sarcastically): *Sor-ree*, try again!
     KATSE: Shit! You brats are always getting in my way!
     KEN: Damn you, Galactor! You're going to pay for trying to destroy
this peaceful, beautiful country!
     KATSE: Kill them! Kill all the Science Ninja Team!

There is a fight. The team form up for the Whirlwind Fighter.

     JINPEI: Ninja Whirlwind Fighter!

They take out several of the Galactors.  Katse ducks down into Cataroller.

     KATSE: The nerve of those damned brats!
     KEN (flinging boomerang at Galactors) Birdrang!
     RYU (fighting Galactors): Bastards!

The Cataroller starts to take off.

     KEN: Watch out! Everyone out of the way! (it lifts off) It's getting
away!

Aboard the Cataroller.

     KATSE: Remember this, Science Ninja Team! I'm going to change plans
and destroy you for good next time!

On the ground, Ken is called on the bracelet.

     KEN: This is Gatchaman.
     NAMBU: Ken, I wanted to thank you for helping Red Impulse. Now we have
the Defense Minister's secret plans. This is where the real work begins.
After this business in Huntwall is finished, you will finally be able to
meet your father. (2)
     KEN: *What?!*
     NAMBU: Good luck, all of you!
     KEN Doctor! (in joyful shock) My father's alive!

He pelts off.

     JUN: Ken! Where're you going?
     JOE: Leave him alone, Jun. He wants to be alone now.

We see Ken in Bird Style, running along a beach.

     NARRATOR: If they defeat Galactor, Ken will get the chance to meet his
father. He has always believed that the father he dreamed of is alive,
somewhere, somehow. Now, learning that he will finally meet his father, Ken
cannot hold back his hot tears.
     KEN: DAD!!

     1. Literally, "the honest president's face."
     2. This was a *dumb* move on Nambu's part. Ken's brain shuts off every
time he hears the word "father."Script: Gatchaman I #52       Red Impulse's Secret

translated by Alara Rogers, with some assistance by Yumiko Mizuno

     NARRATOR: Encouraged by Dr. Nambu's words, Ken has been searching all
over the world for Galactor's monstermech, the Cataroller. But today, as
usual, his search has borne no fruit.

Ken arrives home in his place, and sees somebody come out of his house.

     KEN: Who's there?!

He runs into his house, and discovers the place has been torn apart.

Later, at the Snack J, he talks to Jinpei.

     JINPEI: That's really strange, them going after *your* place.
Considering you never have any money and all.
     KEN: Uh-- yeah, that's right. So I was hoping you could give me a
break today too, you know?
     JINPEI: Huh? *More* credit? You'd better start paying it back soon,
you know. You know how upset my older sister'll get.
     
Jun is playing with a band in the J proper. Ken finishes his meal.

     KEN: My, that was delicious, Jinpei. Aren't you the expert cook.
     JINPEI: Flattery will get you nowhere.

There is a loud sound, like a gunshot. Ken gets up.

     JINPEI: Huh? What is it now?
     KEN: Jinpei, didn't you just hear something? It sounded to me like a
shot.
     JINPEI: You can't trick *me*. You're not going to eat and run off.
     KEN (startled) You're getting to be just like Jun.

He runs outside to look for the perpetrator, while Jun tends to an injured
man.

     KEN: Hell. Where'd they go? (inside) How is he?
     JUN: Nothing major. Just a scratch, really.

Ken looks at the man's face.

     KEN: That can't be... Sabu?
     JUN: You know him?
     KEN: Yeah, we go way back. But what's he gotten himself into now?...
Call a doctor. After he's had his wounds tended to, I'll take him back to
my place. 
     NARR: At the same time, Dr. Nambu, at ISO, is receiving a visit from a
mysterious person claiming to be a scientist from Huntwall...
     NAMBU: So. The V-2 Plan has finally been finished...
     SCIENTIST: That's right. It only remains to be put into practice.
     NAMBU: That's far too dangerous! You should stop the Plan right away!
     SCIENTIST: Well. There's a condition, you know.
     NAMBU: A condition?
     SCIENTIST: All the nations of the world must first surrender to
Galactor and Huntwall...
     NAMBU: You're insane! Do you think we can do that?
     SCIENTIST: Would you rather we went through with the V-2 Plan-- and
enveloped the Earth in a sea of flame? The only ones left would be
Galactor. 
     NAMBU: *What?*
     SCIENTIST: Galactor would survive-- and the Earth would fall to them.
     NAMBU: Who *are* you? You're not a Huntwall scientist, are you?
     KATSE/SCIENTIST (laughs in Katse's voice) You finally figured it out,
did you, Dr. Nambu?
     NAMBU: Your voice-- you're-- Berg Katse...
     KATSE: You have one week, Dr. Nambu. Surrender-- or we enact the V-2
Plan. (laughs again, and leaves)

At Ken's home, Sabu starts to wake up. Ken comes in.

     KEN: You waking up, Sabu?
     SABU: Ken! You saved me?
     KEN: Yeah. I'm glad your wound was nothing serious.
     SABU: Is this... your place?
     KEN: It's a little airfield my Dad left me. So, what have you been
doing?
     SABU: Like you saw. I've been getting attacked by gangs every day.
     KEN: You've changed, Sabu...
     SABU: This isn't like the old days-- when I used to go weeping to you
whenever the other guys picked on me, and you'd save me. An orphan's got to
be strong if he wants to get anyplace in the world.
     KEN: You really have changed. I remember when you used to be "Crybaby
Sabu"...
     SABU: "Crybaby Sabu", huh?... I remember. We used to be "Crybaby Sabu"
and "Wild Boy Ken"... Hey, that reminds me. Did you ever get to meet your
dad?
     KEN: Huh? What makes you think my dad's alive?
     SABU: I met'im, in Huntwall!
     KEN: How'd you know he was my dad?
     SABU: The photos! Remember, you used to show'em to me, over and over?
     KEN: Yeah. That one?
     
There is a photograph on the wall of Ken's father, mother, and baby Ken.
     
     SABU: Yeah. I'm positive it was that picture. It was when I was
staying at a cheap hotel in Huntwall.

There is a flashback to Sabu in Huntwall, showing how, as he was making his
way to a bunk, he accidentally bumped into a man, knocking a picture out of
his hand. Saying, "Sorry," he bends to pick the picture up for the man, and
sees it is Ken's picture. The man snatches the picture from Sabu's hand,
and Sabu climbs up to his bunk.

     SABU: Later on I realized. That picture was the same picture you used
to show me, over and over... And you'd always talk about it, saying, "My
dad's not dead. He's alive, somewhere..." Right?
     KEN: When was this? When did you meet this man?
     SABU: A week ago.
     KEN: A week ago... That was when we were in Huntwall!
     SABU: Things weren't so great after that. I got into some trouble, and
ran for it back here, but they caught up with me in front of that
restaurant. The rest you know. (Ken walks to the window.) I see... You
never *did* meet your dad, did you. You must want to see him...
     KEN (softly): I do.

At the Snack J, Jinpei is cleaning and Jun is washing dishes.

     JINPEI: Finally! I'm finished. There's laws against overworking
children, you know.

Ken motions at him from the door.

     JINPEI: What is it?
     KEN: Shh.

They go outside.

     JINPEI: What's up, aniki?
     KEN: I'm leaving for Huntwall now.
     JINPEI: Huh? By yourself?
     KEN: That guy over there met my father. I want to go look for him.
     JINPEI: Uh- yeah. Hey, I understand how you feel, but-- are you sure
you can trust the guy?
     KEN: Watch your mouth! The guy's my friend.
     JINPEI: Okay, okay, I got it. But don't you think you should tell
onechan?
     KEN: You worry too much. Now hurry up back.

As Jinpei watches them go, a signal from Dr. Nambu comes on the bracelet.
Jun comes out of the J.

     JUN: Jinpei, what are you goofing around for? Dr. Nambu's giving us an
emergency call-in order!
     JINPEI: Shut up! I know! (to himself) What lousy timing.

At Nambu's home.

     NAMBU: *What?* Ken went to Huntwall to look for his father?
     JINPEI: Uh-- yeah. I tried to stop him, but...
     NAMBU: That fool! What an incredibly self-centered thing to do!
     JUN: Jinpei, why didn't you *tell* me something this important?
     JOE: You couldn't get him on the bracelet?
     JINPEI: I tried, but he must've took it off.
     NAMBU: I can't believe he did this... at a time like this... There's
no time to lose. I'll have to give this mission to the four of you. (He
puts up slides) This is an aerial photograph Red Impulse obtained for us of
Huntwall. Look at this. (a rocket missile)
     RYU: Wh- what's *that?* Pretty big bird sticking its beak out of that
cave, there.
     NAMBU: This is the launching site for the V-2 Plan, a project Huntwall
has finally completed, in cooperation with Galactor. I want you to destroy
it.
     JOE: So what kind of plan *is* this V-2 Plan?
     NAMBU: (changing slides) As you must know, the Earth is wrapped in a
magnetic band, like a tube, 60,000 kilometers thick. It is a vast belt that
starts at 1,000 kilometers up from the ground and vanishes at a height of
60,000 kilometers.
     JUN: That's the Van Allen Belt, right?
     RYU: Musta been named after the guy who discovered it.
     NAMBU: That's right. This magnetic field traps the protons and
electrons fired off from the sun. In a word, the belt protects the Earth.
The V-2 Plan is a plan to trigger a condensation reaction, causing the belt
to lower toward the Earth.
     JINPEI: This is tough going!
     NAMBU: If this were to occur, the radiation from the sun would strike
the Earth directly, and the layers of the atmosphere would fill with
radioactivity. The result would be an abnormally intense heat, which would
gradually kill off all of humanity.
     JINPEI: I don't think I understand all this, but it sounds bad.
     JOE: But without Ken's G-1, the GOD PHOENIX won't be as fast as usual.
     JUN: Right, and we won't be able to use the bird missiles or the
Firebird, either!
     NAMBU: This is no time to stand around talking. Launch immediately!

Aboard the God Phoenix.

     JOE: This is bad. If we meet up with the Cataroller, that we saw
before, it could finish us in one roll.
     JINPEI: Shame on Ken! He always criticized *me* for doing this!
     RYU: The Doctor should never've told Ken his father was alive.
     JOE: Hey, when we get to Huntwall, I'm going out in the G-2 and doing
whatever I want!
     JINPEI: Yeah! I'm gonna take the G-4 and kick some butt, too!
     RYU: I wanna kick butt, too!

     JUN: Stop it, all of you! Don't you realize what's going to happen if
we split up like that? 
     JINPEI: I know how you feel, onechan, but... we're just sick of Ken
doing stuff like this.
     RYU: Yeah, he's our leader! He's not supposed to go off on personal
business!
     JOE: He's too soft. He's not some baby, to be crying, "Daddy, Daddy."

The Cataroller apporaches.

     RYU: Yaah! What're we gonna do, it's the Cataroller!
     
They fly, dodging it, but it keeps getting closer.

     JINPEI: It's no good! It's coming back!
     JOE: Don't worry about it, Ryu! Smash it!
     RYU: Shut up and leave the piloting to me!
     JUN: That's enough! This is no time to argue with each other! Ken,
what could you be *doing* now?

Ken and Sabu at the cheap hotel.

     KEN: This's the place where you saw my Dad?...

He goes inside. The floor drops, and there is laughter. The voice of the
Captain of the Secret Police of Huntwall, that he met in ep. #51, speaks.

     CAPTAIN: (laughs) My men have been searching for you, as the son of a
spy.
     KEN: What did you say? My father's a *spy?*
     CAPTAIN: It was only very recently that we learned his name, and that
you were his son.
     KEN: So you bastards were the ones that wrecked my apartment.
     CAPTAIN: That's right. We used a man who knew you well...
     KEN: Sabu!... Sa-sabu... I can't believe he... *SABU!*

Back on the GOD PHOENIX. They are not doing too well.

     JOE: Shit! We can't do anything!
     RYU: The worst part is the enemy's faster and more manueverable!
     JINPEI: Dammit, I wish Ken was here! If we go down, they'll send out
that missile!

Jun gets an idea. She runs for the elevator.

     JINPEI: Where're you going, onechan?
     JUN: I'm going to try to fix it so we can use the Bird Missiles.
     RYU: How come we didn't think of that?
     JUN: While you were wasting time badmouthing Ken, I was using my head.
     RYU: Good way to put it.

Jun begins rigging a connection to enable them to use the Bird Missiles.

     JUN: Ryu! Put out the auto-gripper!
     NARR: When all the vehicles, from the G-1 to the G-5, are properly
united, an electrical circuit connects which permits the use of the Bird
Missiles and the Firebird. Jun is trying to link the empty space where the
G-1 should be with a cord.

She completes the connection.

     JOE: She did it! Good work! (gets ready to fire the missiles) All
right, no one's gonna stop us today. I'm firing as many missiles as I want!

He fires until the overworked connecting wire breaks, cutting the circuit.

     JOE: Shit! Was it too much for the circuit?

Cataroller blows up anyway. At the office of the Defense Minister of
Huntwall, Berg Katse is talking to a Galactor on the screen.

     KATSE: What? Cataroller was *destroyed?*
     GAL: Yes, sir. It was struck with missiles at very close range...
     KATSE: It's because they underestimated the Science Ninja Team, the
fools! 
     DM: The fact that they've taken this action means that Nambu's turned
down our proposal.
     KATSE: The fool. Now we go to the V-2 Plan! When the Earth is wrapped
in flame, then the people of the world will turn to we of Galactor--
     DM: And the country of Huntwall to beg for help.
     KATSE: (laughs) I'm going to slowly torment that cursed Nambu!

At the base where the V-2 Plan is being prepared.

     GAL: Firing preparation complete! Beginning count of seconds!
     KATSE: All right, these are my final instructions. Set the firing
timer and evacuate immediately!
     GAL: Yes, sir. (over PA) Groud crew, take shelter immediately!

Sabu is walking, riffling the bills in his pocket. A hand falls on his
shoulder.

     MAN: Wait! (grabs Sabu) Your fee for betraying friendship was a trip
around the world.

He punches Sabu. At the same time, the Captain is hitting Ken with a rod.

     CAPTAIN: I have some news for you that should make you happy. Your
father's responded to our summons.
     KEN: My dad... my dad is coming here?
     CAPTAIN: That's right. You don't remember your father, and you've
never met him, have you? We're really your benefactors, then, setting up
this place for a father and son to meet.
     KEN: What are you going to do with him?
     CAPTAIN: We have the death penalty for spies.

The sound of approaching footsteps.

     CAPTAIN: Sounds like he's coming.
     KEN: {My dad... my dad is coming! I want to see him... I want to see
him, but...} Don't come in! It's a trap!
     CAPTAIN (beating Ken): Shut up!

A man approaches, and waits just outside the door.

     CAPTAIN: What's wrong, Kentaro Washio? Your precious only son is
waiting for you.

There are more footsteps approaching. Two more men arrive.

     CAPTAIN: Which one is him? (to men) Be careful! They're planning
something!

The three men jump behind the doors, and come back garbed as the Red
Impulse squad. They begin shooting the Galactors.

     CAPTAIN: Wh- who are you? Why didn't he come? Where's Washio?

The Red Impulse squad shoot him and free Ken. The Captain of the Red
Impulse turns to his men.

     RI: We've wasted enough time. Get going!
     KEN: Please wait, Red Impulse! (RI turns) My father-- where's my
father?
     RI: You fool! This isn't the time for this! Listen-- the Galactors are
planning to lower the Van Allen Belt. We're trying to destroy their special
missile. If we don't succeed... the Earth will be wiped out! Do you
understand, Ken? We have a responsibility now! There's no time for fathers
and sons now!

He leaves, and comes back with Sabu.

     RI: Almost forgot him. Ken, do what you like with him!

Sabu is freaked out by the dead bodies.

     SABU: Ken... forgive me, please....
     KEN: Saying you met my father... that was a lie, wasn't it. And you
getting shot in front of the restaurant... it was all an act. I thought it
was strange that your wound was so light, if you got shot at such close
range. But I told myself I couldn't be suspicious, not of you... I never
thought you, my good friend, would ever.... I never wanted to think you
might betray me!
     SABU (begging): Forgive me, Ken, please! I was *scared!* I *had* to do
what they said! They said they'd *kill* me! Forgive me, *please*! I was
scared-- I didn't have any choice! I didn't know what to do! I was wrong...
please, please, forgive me...
     KEN: You haven't changed much after all, Sabu. You were always like
this. Whenever something happened, you would always go off crying. You're
nothing but a nuisance.
     SABU: Ken!
     KEN: Don't follow me! I've had enough. Get lost.

The missile launches before the horrified eyes of the Ninja Team.

     RYU: We're too late!
     JOE: If we'd only been an hour earlier... Shit!

The Red Impulse squad also watch.

     RI: We're too late. That damned Berg Katse finally did it.

Aboard the GOD PHOENIX, the team talk to Nambu.

     JUN: We're sorry, Doctor. We were one step too late in preventing the
missile take-off.
     JOE: If we'd only not wasted so much time fighting the Cataroller...
if the GOD PHOENIX had been complete...
     RYU: If Ken'd shown up...
     JOE: Don't talk about Ken! Our *leader* took off by himself, like he
always does!
     NAMBU: No, team. Don't blame Ken. If anyone's to blame, it's me. This
is the best opportunity I'll have to tell you the story. 

Flashbacks appear.

     NAMBU: It was 14 years ago that I first learned about Galactor's
connection to Huntwall and the development of the V-2 Plan. I asked a man,
a test pilot who worked at my laboratory, to infiltrate the country of
Huntwall and get the documents pertaining to the V-2 Plan. It would be an
act of espionage against a vast organization, and an entire country. The
man couldn't bear to think that his family might be placed in danger, so he
gave me his 4-year-old child to raise. Then he made it look as if he'd died
in an accident in the sky over the southern seas, abandoned his name and
changed his appearance, and infiltrated Huntwall. That man-- Red Impulse--
was Ken's father!
     JUN: Then... the captain of Red Impulse... is Ken's father?
     JINPEI: An' Ken never knew it...
     NAMBU: If I had told Ken more quickly, he wouldn't be tormenting
himself over it now...
     JUN: Ken...

The V-2 Plan is carried out, the Van Allen belt falls with much
destruction, and Ken stares desolately out across the reddened ocean.Script: Gatchaman #53   Farewell, Red Impulse

translated by Alara Rogers, with some assistance by Yumiko Mizuno

The Earth is suffering in the throes of the V-2 Plan. Dejectedly, the Ninja
Team, still sans Ken, stare out the porthole of Crescent Coral base.

     JINPEI: Aniki never did show up, did he...
     JUN: Where is he? What could he be doing?
     
Nambu enters.

     NAMBU: Team, a tape arrived at ISO this morning, from Galactor.
     JOE: From *Galactor?*
     JINPEI: What?
     RYU: Galactor?
     
Nambu plays the tape. It is Berg Katse.

     KATSE: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the ISO. 
     RYU (disgustedly) It's Berg Katse!
     JINPEI: No matter how many times I hear that voice, it still makes me
sick.
     KATSE (continuing): By now, you have seen what Galactor can do. If
things continue the way they are now, the Earth will be completely
irradiated in half a day. Surrender at once. We of Galactor have the power
to push the Van Allen Belt back where it belongs, and we are fully prepared
to do so. We will wait 24 hours, for you to tell all the nations of the
Earth to surrender.

Nambu turns off the tape.

     JOE: Shit! That damned Katse!
     JUN: Doctor, isn't there anything we can *do?*
     NAMBU: It's a question of time. We don't have the time to do anything.
     RYU: Well, if Berg Katse said he could put the Van Allen Belt, how
would *he* do it?
     NAMBU: Clearly, it would be with a missile. In theory, the Van Allen
Belt could be pushed back to its original, higher position, by a very
strong wind. But if they do it that way, they would need a very powerful
missile. It's too late for the ISO to build such a missile.
     RYU: So we hafta give up...?
     JINPEI: Damned Galactors, they're gonna wait for us to give up and
*then* fire off their missile!
     JOE: Hey! Why don't we take *Galactor's* missile?
     JUN: Yes! Before anyone surrenders, we can sneak into Galactor's base!
     JINPEI: And *we* can send off their missile! Sounds great, let's go!
     NAMBU: Mmm. I have to return to ISO now-- I leave it in your capable
hands. Go!
     TEAM: Roger!

As they leave, Nambu calls Jun back.

     NAMBU: Jun! If you find Ken somewhere, tell him not to hesitate to
come back.
     JUN: Yes, Doctor!

The God Phoenix takes off. Elsewhere, the Defense Minister of Huntwall and
Berg Katse stand at the entrance to the safe that Ken and Red Impulse
attempted to blow up in ep. #53.
     
     DM: It really gives me a chill to think how Gatchaman and that spy
were here just the other day.
     KATSE: Galactor spent 10 long years building this. How could they open
it so easily? 

They enter the safe, which turns out to be a gateway to a Galactor base.
Katse speaks to a Captain with a dead white mask-face and a mohawk.

     KATSE: Captain! How far have we gotten with the missile?
     CAPTAIN: Sir, it will take three days to complete.
     KATSE: That's too late! Finish it in 10 hours!
     CAPTAIN: That's impossible, sir. As you can see, the computer brain of
the missile must be set to make no mistakes. Even if we use a hundred
scientists, it will still take 3 days.
     KATSE: All right, get rid of the computer and change it over to a man-
operated system!
     CAPTAIN (shocked): Sir? You want to fire the missile with a person
inside it?
     KATSE: At a time like this, we can't worry about having to lose one or
two pilots. It'll be a suicide mission! If we take more than a day, it'll
be too difficult to push the Van Allen Belt back! If the Earth's a charnel
house by the time we take it, it'll be no use to us!
     DM: We can make a deal with the ISO afterward.

Katse and the Defense Minister board a moving platform and survey the work
area.

     KATSE: By the way, how's the president?
     DM: We've got him cornered in a small room. By tomorrow morning, he
should be killed.

Two men are working on the missile.

     MAN 1: Hey, I'm gonna move this.
     MAN 2: Okay.

Man 1 slips and starts to fall, screaming. Man 2 grabs the power unit Man 1
is holding to and tries to pull him up with it. Katse sees.
     
     MAN 2: Hang on! Don't let go!
     KATSE: What are you two doing?!
     MAN 2: Sir! As you see, my partner--

Katse shoots the cord in half, and Man 1 falls to his death. Man 2 (who
sounds and looks suspiciously like Ken) looks on in horror.

     KATSE: You *idiot*! Completing the work quickly is more important than
the lives of one or two men! Have you forgotten the rules of Galactor?
Ignore your partners! Concentrate only on faithfully completing your work!
(Man 2 looks like he wants to hit Katse) Do you have a problem with that?!

     MAN 3 (coming up behind Ken and putting a hand on his shoulder) Hey,
I'll help you.
     KEN: Uh-- okay.
     KATSE: Yes, work! I will brook absolutely no opposition to me!
     MAN 3 (sounding and looking suspiciously like Red Impulse): You're
young. If you still have human feelings left, you shouldn't go into
Galactor. 
     NARR: At the same time, the people of the Northern Hemisphere have
begun heading for the south. But the damage is extending to the Southern
Hemisphere as well, following the people. The people, with no place left to
go, gather in front of the president's house.

Scenes of destruction. The people, in front of the president's house
(president of what is never specified) yell things.

     PEOPLE: Surrender to Galactor! Save the Earth! Do what Galactor says!
     NARR: But the gates to the homes of the world's leaders remain tightly
closed. They have yet a final hope, and are awaiting ISO's final decision.

In the ISO chambers.

     ANDERSON: These are photographs taken from space every twelve hours.
As you see, the flames are spreading. Representatives of the world's
nations, the debate has begun. Let us make a rapid decision. Do we leave
things as they are, and wait for the Earth's destruction? Or do we
surrender to Galactor?
     NAMBU: Wait, please! It's too soon to come to a final decision. We
still have half a day left.
     REP 1: What good will waiting half a day do? At this point, there's no
such thing as early or late.
     REP 2: I agree. I have to return as quickly as possible to my country
and tell the president of the decision arrived at here. 
     REP 3: We have to save the Earth, even if it means surrendering to
Galactor.
     REP 4: The people are panicking. Don't you think it's our duty to come
to a decision as soon as possible and relieve them?

Nambu runs up the stairs and triggers a time lock to close the doors.

     REPS: What? What are you doing? 
     REP 4: Doc-doctor Nambu, what are you *doing?*
     NAMBU: As you can see, this is an automatic security lock. We will not
be able to open this door for 12 hours.
     REPS (outraged) Are you trying to lock us in? Outrageous! You must be
crazy!
     NAMBU: Gentlemen, please calm down and think about this. Surrender to
Galactor means the destruction of humanity, even if the Earth itself is
saved. Please wait for 12 hours! You may consider this an outrage, if you
like... but you will wait until tomorrow to return to your homelands and
carry our decision back to your leaders.
     ANDERSON: Dr. Nambu, I understand how you must feel, but... we have no
other plan left to us.
     NAMBU: No, we have the Science Ninja Team.
     ANDERSON: We all acknowledge what the Ninja Team have done for us thus
far, but... (opens windowscreens) Look at this. The sun is setting. If we
make a bargain with Galactor, it is sure to return in the eastern sky
tomorrow. Dr. Nambu, do you truly believe that the Science Ninja Team can
solve our problem in such a short time?
     NAMBU: Yes. I do.

Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     JOE: The Huntwall Air Force is coming!
     RYU: Dr. Nambu fixed it so we can use the bird missiles!
     JOE: All right, let's do it! (bracelet starts beeping) Ah--!
     RYU: It's a Bird Scramble!
     JUN: It's Ken! It's from Ken!
     JOE: Jun, fit it to the radar and find out where he is!
     JUN: Roger!
     JOE: Ryu, go up!

The GOD PHOENIX defeats various fighter planes. They continue to track on
Ken's signal.

     JUN: He's at 10 o'clock, distance 60,000 meters!

In the Galactor base, Ken is sitting on the floor, pressing his
communicator. Berg Katse approaches.

     KATSE: What are you doing? All the others are exhausted and sleeping,
and yet you're wide awake. You're the one who opposed me this afternoon. I
didn't take care of you then because we were hurrying to get the missile
completed. But now it's done. (laughs) And now I will kill you. This is the
fate of all those that oppose me.

He fires. The clothes fall to the floor. Katse starts to laugh, and then
realizes there is no body.

     KATSE: Ah-- what the--
     KEN (from above) Here I am, Berg Katse! Up here!
     KATSE: Gatchaman! How long have you been here?
     KEN: Have you forgotten, Berg Katse? I am the white shadow that slips
in unseen, Gatchaman!

He leaps down, and there is a fight. He defeats a few Galactors and stands
in front of Katse, who's got a gun.

     KEN: Berg Katse, it's time for me to shatter your ambitions.
     KATSE: Shut up, Gatchaman! Before long, the whole world will surrender
to Galactor. I win!
     KEN: It won't happen. I'm going to take that missile behind you.
     KATSE: *What?*

Ken attacks Katse and knocks him to the floor. Katse picks himself up off
the floor and shouts to his men.

     KATSE: What are you waiting for? Take him!

Ken beats a whole lot of Galactors.

     KEN: Are you coming at me, Galactor? I never knew how much I could
hate you before. You don't have parents, you don't have children. You took
advantage of the fact that I'd lost my father, and what did you do to me?
Get away, get away from me! If you come after me, I'll smash you!

The GOD PHOENIX is coming in over the boundary of Huntwall, upsetting a few
military men.

     MAN: Ah, that's the God Phoenix! This is a violation of the boundary!

Aboard. 

     JUN: Wasn't that a little violent?
     JOE: I don't care. They're working for Galactor. I woke them up a
little.

Back at the Galactor base, lots of men have drawn guns on Ken. 

     KATSE: (frustrated noise) What are you waiting for? He's only one man,
and not even Gatchaman can be immortal. Fire!
     MAN'S VOICE FROM BEHIND KATSE: Wait! Don't shoot!

There is a gun pressed to Katse's back.

     KATSE: Wh-what are you doing? Why are you trying to betray me? 
     MAN: Ah, Berg Katse, you're not the only disguise artist in the world.
     KATSE: That voice--
     MAN: That's right. (pulling off his disguise) I'm Red Impulse. My men
have saved the president and brought him to a safe place. Now, resign
yourself to defeat, and take off your mask, Berg Katse.
     KATSE: (laughs quietly) You really want to see my face so badly?
(pulls out one of his mouth-bombs and throws it) Take a good look!

Aboard God Phoenix.

     JUN: Distance 1,000!
     JINPEI: Changing over to instrument flight!
     JOE: Put up the infrared filter!
     RYU: Roger!

They see the vault by infrared.

     JINPEI: The signal's coming from in that vault!
     JOE: All right! Never mind the vault, crash through it! 

In the Galactor base, Katse and the Defense Minister are aboard the
transport, above Red Impulse and Ken.

     KATSE: (laughs) Gatchaman, I freely give you that missile. But
something you should note, it's a human-operated rocket. Somebody's got to
get inside and fly it or it won't go anywhere. One of you must sacrifice
himself, or you can't save the Earth! (laughs)

The God Phoenix crashes through the wall. The Defense Minister falls to his
death, and Ken looks away. Katse catches onto the wall.

     KATSE: Shit, the damned Science Ninja Team! I'm not defeated! Galactor
is not defeated! (leaps onto the transport) Don't expect Galactor to give
up on world conquest, Gatchaman! We'll be back! I *promise* you, we'll be
back! (he departs)

The Science Ninja Team and Red Impulse stand by the missile.

     RI: It's just like Katse said. This missile needs someone to fly it.
Team, I leave the rest of it to you...
     KEN: Wait, please! What are you going to do?
     RI: My life alone can save the Earth.
     KEN: No! Let me go! It's my fault things got this bad in the first
place!
     RI: Back off, you impudent boy!
     KEN: Wh-WHAT?! You're always like this, damn you! (grabs Red Impulse)
Why, *why* do you always treat me like a child?
     JUN: Stop, Ken! That man is your father!
     KEN: Wh-- *what* did you say??
     JUN: Dr. Nambu told us everything, Ken. That man-- the captain of Red
Impulse-- is your father. 

Red Impulse puts up his visor, and he and Ken look into each other's eyes.

     KEN: Fa... father...
     RI: Ken.
     KEN: You... you're my father!
     RI: Ken. I thought it would be better for you if we parted without my
ever naming myself... I couldn't... I couldn't do anything for you as a
parent. All I can do for you now... (grabs Ken, throws him over his
shoulder, and starts spinning him around) is *this!*

Everyone gasps. With tears in his eyes, Red Impulse flings Ken across the
room.

     RI: I can't bear it, Ken! As a father, to have to part with my son
this way.... Be healthy, and grow strong.

He runs to board the missile. Ken gets to his knees.

     KEN: Father! (reaching out toward the missile) Father! FATHER!
     RI: Farewell, Ken!

The missile closes, and starts to roll out of the base. Ken shouts after
it.

     KEN: Father!

The missile goes out into the ocean. The team follow as far as the shore.
Underwater, the missile turns and readies itself to go up. Red Impulse
thinks to Ken, remembering his son.
     
     RI: {Ken, do you remember? When I gave you to Dr. Nambu and went to
the southern sky, when you were so small, you kept running after me. You
would run and then fall down, and get up and run again, covered with mud
and tears.}
     (screams) KEN!!

There is a blinding flash of light. Ken, seeing it, screams.

     KEN: FATHER!!

The team grieve with Ken. Jinpei is sobbing. The Van Allen belt recedes. At
ISO, the dawn is breaking.

     REP: The dawn!

Nambu's communicator beeps.

     NAMBU: This is Nambu. (listens) I see. Red Impulse... (his voice is
choked with emotion. He wipes away the tears under his glasses, then speaks
to the ISO.) Gentlemen, I have just received a communication from the
Science Ninja Team. The Earth has been saved! (up to this point, he is in
control, but his voice starts to break now) ...by the sacrifice of my best
friend...
     EVERYONE: Ohhh....
     ANDERSON (gently) Dr. Nambu...

The time lock opens. The sun is rising.

     ISO guy: The sun!
     
Nambu walks through the doors.

     ANDERSON: Dr. Nambu!

Paying no attention, Nambu walks out of the room, thinking to Red Impulse.

     NAMBU: {Farewell, Red Impulse. How can I ever apologize to you and
your son?}
     NARR: The missile that Red Impulse piloted exploded 1,000 kilometers
above the ground, pushing the Van Allen Belt back to its original higher
position. The Earth was saved. But the battle between Galactor and the
Science Ninja Team was far from over.

Back aboard the GOD PHOENIX.
     JOE: Ken, it's good to see you back in this seat.
     KEN: Berg Katse, I'm going to follow you wherever you go! For revenge
for my father, with this hand I'll end your life! (1)

     1. Red Impulse sacrificed *himself.* It was his and Ken's idea to take
Galactor's missile-- chances are, Katse would have launched it anyway. He
lives here-- he can't afford to destroy the planet-- but he can certainly
pretend he will. I have a sneaking suspicion that RI died because he and
everyone else fell for Katse's bluff.Script: Gatchaman I #61       The Ghost of Red Impulse

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

The GOD PHOENIX is flying on a routine patrol.

     JINPEI: Oh, this is Huntwall airspace! This is the place where the
captain of Red Impulse died, onechan!
     JUN: (horrified) Jinpei! 
     JINPEI (realizing what he's just said, and in whose hearing) Oh
shit...

Everyone looks at Ken, who heads for the exit.

     JINPEI (desperately) Aniki, where're you going?
     KEN: Go on back. I'll be back soon.
     JINPEI: Aniki! Aniki! Oh, damn... I'm sorry! That was awful of me, I
totally forgot.

Ken launches his plane and flies off. He has a flashback to the end of ep.
#53. In the flashback, he sees his father Red Impulse standing on the
rocket he would die on.
     RI: Ken! Ken!
     KEN: Father!
He comes out of the flashback-- to see Red Impulse's plane.

     KEN: Red Impulse-- that can't be! (He follows, and sees Red Impulse
inside the plane's cockpit) Father.... my father's alive!
     RI (laughs) Red Impulse is immortal! Follow me. I'll show you to our
new base.
     KEN (joyfully, but shocked) I-- I don't believe it! (to bracelet) This
is Gatchaman. Dr. Nambu, please come in! Please!
     NAMBU: This is Nambu. What's wrong, Gatchaman?
     KEN: Doctor, my dad-- my dad's alive!
     NAMBU: What do you mean "my dad's alive"?
     KEN: It's my father. The captain of Red Impulse is alive! I saw him
with my own eyes! I'm flying after him!
     NAMBU: That's insane! He can't be alive! If he were, he'd've come and
reported to me first!
     KEN: Maybe he's got a reason. I'll ask him personally when I see him.
(follows determinedly) All right!
     NAMBU: Wait, Gatchaman! Is there any possibility it might be a
hallucination? Gatchaman! (to himself) Red Impulse alive? How can that be?
     KEN: {This is no dream. That's really the Red Impulse squad! And that
pilot is my father!}
     
Aboard the God Phoenix, Nambu contacts the rest of the team.

     JUN: Huh? Ken's father's *alive?*
     NAMBU: That's what he said. I just got a call from him. He's extremely
excited and may have lost his objectivity. (1) I want you to go immediately
after him and follow him to find out what's going on.
     EVERYONE: Roger!
     JOE: "The captain of Red Impulse is still alive", he says? Where is
Ken's *mind?*
     RYU: He goes nuts whenever he hears something about his father. Can't
say I blame the guy, though.

Red Impulse is flying into a mountain.

     KEN: In there? (flies in and comes to a landing) This is their new
base? It's really *big.* That's strange. Where'd everybody go? (climbs out,
and walks down the hall, to the room where Red Impulse waits. Seeing him,
he thinks, but does not say,) {Father!}

Red Impulse turns and smiles. Ken runs to him, but stops short.

     
     RI: You look well. I've been wanting to see you.
     KEN: I-- I don't believe it! You're alive!
     RI: How is Dr. Nambu, by the way?
     KEN: He's fine. He's still plugging away at the Mantle Project. But...
why didn't you tell us you were alive?
     RI: In order to deceive the enemy, you must sometimes deceive your
friends as well. I didn't want Galactor to know I was alive. (2)
     KEN: But... couldn't you have given us *some* word? Even a *hint?*
     RI: No. I've been spending this time in search of Galactor's
headquarters, in total secrecy.
     KEN: Galactor's headquarters? Then--
     RI: I didn't find it, I'm afraid, but I know a lot more about them
now. In this briefcase, I have information on a number of Galactor bases--
their locations, floor plans, and number of staff, listed in detail. If we
attack and destroy these bases, Galactor's strength might be reduced by
50%.
     KEN: How'd you get all this stuff?
     RI (smiles) I guess I'm just better at infiltration than you are.
Here, please take these to Dr. Nambu.

Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     RYU: Where *is* Ken, anyway? I can't find hide nor hair of him
anywhere.
     JOE: Maybe he's gone back to the base with his father.

A monstermech appears.

     JUN: Aah! What's that?
     RYU: A wasp monster!
     JOE: Shit, those damned Galactors! I never thought we'd run into them
*here!* (tries to fire a Bird Missile) The Bird Missile didn't come out!
     JUN: Did you forget? G-1's missing. You know the GOD PHOENIX can't
perform fully unless all the pieces are together.
     JOE: So you're saying all we can do is run away?
     RYU: Enemy mecha approaching!

The GOD PHOENIX dodges. Aboard the mecha.

     GAL: They tryin' to run away?

Aboard GP.
     
     RYU: Shit!
     JUN: Aah! We're falling!

Ryu manages to save the GP from an ignominious crash.

     RYU: Well, it looks like we're safe now.
     JINPEI: Yeah, looks like Galactor missed us, onechan. 

The wasp goes behind the GP, out of range of its viewscreen, and jabs it
with its stinger. 
     RYU: (horrified) There it is!

Gas starts coming in. The Galactors gloat.

     GAL: We got'em! They're in the pocket!

The team starts to pass out from the gas.

     JOE Shit! (full of hate) Galactor! (he collapses)

Aboard the mecha.

     GAL 1: It's worked! Let's take'em back!
     GAL 2: Why don't we kill'em now?
     GAL 1: They're more useful as hostages.

Back at Red Impulse's base.

     KEN: Well, I've got to go.
     RI: Why? Why don't you stay a little while longer?
     KEN: No, I really have to. Everyone's going to be worried about me.
Hey, why don't you come back to ISO with me? Dr. Nambu would be thrilled to
see you.
     RI: I'm afraid I can't-- I've got a little more work to do. After I
finish, why don't we both go and see him?
     KEN: That'd be great. Okay, I'll come again.
     RI: Give my regards to Dr. Nambu. See you later. (Ken starts to leave)
Oh, wait. Don't forget this-- (hands him the briefcase, and it falls open)
Oh, no. I forgot to lock the briefcase. (Ken and RI start collecting the
papers) Terrible if we should lose a piece of this information, that I put
so much hard work into collecting. Don't miss a single page, or there'll be
trouble. (locks the box and hands it to Ken) Please be sure to give this to
Dr. Nambu.
     KEN: Got it.
     RI: Please come again. We'll have fun. (3)

Ken leaves, and goes back to base.

     NAMBU: No matter how much I think about it, I can't bring myself to
believe it. How could the captain of Red Impulse possibly be alive?
     KEN: What do you mean? He gave us information on Galactor, didn't he?
     NAMBU: That's no proof that he's Red Impulse. You can draw anything
you want with a pencil and paper. 
     KEN: So you don't believe me? You think I'm lying that my father's
alive?
     NAMBU: I want to believe it. But I'm having serious trouble in doing
so this time. And by the way, where's the rest of the team? They were
supposed to be looking for you.
     KEN: I didn't see them.
     NAMBU: That's strange. It's been too long. This is Nambu! GOD PHOENIX,
come in! This is Nambu! GOD PHOENIX, come in! (looks at Ken) They're not
answering. Something's happened to them!
     KEN: To the GOD PHOENIX!?

Ken leaves again.

     NARR: Searching for the other four members of his team at Dr. Nambu's
request, Ken flies once more to the Republic of Huntwall.

Ken remembers Nambu's words.

     NAMBU: {That's no proof that he's Red Impulse. You can draw anything
you want with a pencil and paper.}
     KEN: This time, I'll make sure.

Back at Red Impulse's base.

     RI: How about some coffee?
     KEN: Thanks.
     RI: Don't worry, Gatchaman. We'll find your teammates together. By the
way, what did Dr. Nambu have to say about me being alive?
     KEN: Oh, he still finds it hard to believe. (looks into his coffee,
and a thought suddenly occurs to him.) {"Gatchaman"?} (4)
     RI: Huh? What's wrong, Gatchaman?
     KEN: Ah-- well-- nothing, really.
     RI: Why don't you drink your coffee before it gets cold?
     KEN: Um-- yeah.

He tips the coffee to his lips, as Red Impulse watches intently. Then he
drops the coffee cup, choking.

     RI: What's wrong? Are you all right? (runs to Ken's collapsed form)
Gatchaman, what's wrong? Are you all right? Gatchaman! Hey, wake up!
     
He stands up as soon as he's sure Ken isn't going to get up, and begins to
laugh, kicking Ken's body. Then he pulls off the Red Impulse costume and
turns out to be Berg Katse. Katse steps on Ken's face.

     KATSE: I don't think I could call you a fool, even though I did get
you to drink poisoned coffee. It's been the hardest job of my career,
getting you as far as this. I do have one piece of information for you to
take to hell as a souvenir: that briefcase I gave you is a transmission
device, so we could find your secret base. Now we can get hold of the
Mantle Project's research data.

He begins to walk off. Behind him he hears a voice.

     KEN: I see. Now I understand.
     KATSE: What? (turns, sees Ken getting to his feet) *Gatchaman!*
     KEN: Next time you put on a disguise, be careful what you say.
     KATSE: How-- how did you figure me out?
     KEN: The Captain of Red Impulse and I had a special relationship, and
there were special words we used for each other. Just between us. You get
it? (5)
     KATSE: What? What do you mean?
     KEN: Do you want to know? Do you really want to know? (runs at Katse,
and begins beating the crap out of him) I'll tell you! Listen! You'll never
understand how I feel! Shit, that was a filthy thing to do! Damn you!
     KATSE: Help me, somebody!
     KEN: Shit! I'm going to *kill* you! Damn you!
     KATSE (screaming desperately) Save me!
     GALS (running into room) Ah-- Katse-sama!

There is a fight. Ken disposes of the Galactors, but Katse triggers a trap
door, and Ken falls in. His teammates are there, captives.
     
     JINPEI: Aniki! I might've known you'd come and rescue us! How'd you
find us?
     KEN: No, I've been captured too.
     JUN: Ken, is your father really alive?
     KEN: No. I was wrong.
     KATSE: How easily we captured all of you. Please relax, and watch the
show as your base is crushed. After that, we leave you a present, with
love. This self-destruct device will blow up in 5 minutes. Enjoy the
suspense as the time of your death comes closer and closer. We'll be going
to another secret base. (turns to men) Go and prepare to attack!
     GALS: Yes, sir!
     KATSE: Hurry! (Ken flicks a transmitter onto the back of Katse's
collar. Katse turns, not noticing it.) Well, enjoy yourselves... (he
leaves)
     JINPEI: Damn you, let us out, you shithead!
     KEN (to bracelet) This is Gatchaman. Dr. Nambu, please come in! Dr.
Nambu!
     JUN: It's no use, Ken. There's a jamming signal-- you can't get a
message through!
     KEN: Dammit!
     JINPEI: Dr. Nambu's in trouble! What're we gonna do?
     KEN: Jun, use your yo-yo bomb.
     JUN: Gotcha. (she tries it against the bars of the cage-- it does no
good)
     JOE: No good. Those damn Galactors know how clever we are.
     JINPEI: Are we gonna die? Say something, aniki! We gotta do something
about that bomb! Aniki! Please, do something!
     JOE: All right!

He gets his cablegun ready. Ken thinks he's going to fire it at the bomb.

     KEN: Don't do that! It'll blow up!
     JOE: Don't worry!

He puts a drillhead on the gun and begins to drill a hole in a bar.

     JINPEI (moans) It'll take too long!

At the Galactor base, Katse gloats.

     KATSE: All of the Science Ninja Team will soon be dead!

He disembarks at the base.

     GALS: Welcome back, Katse-sama!
     KATSE: Thank you for coming to meet me.

The tracker drops from his collar into the water in the base's bay. Back in
the other base.

     JINPEI: Hurry up! Why are you taking so long? Time's running out!
     RYU: Don't interrupt him, we still have some time!
     JUN: Joe, are you done yet? Hurry!
     JOE: Don't rush me, it's not like I'm cutting through paper! (finishes
drilling the hole) Did it!
     JINPEI: We're saved!
     JOE: Don't cheer yet, I have to make another hole.
     KEN: That's no good. We won't have enough time.
     JUN: What'll we do, Ken?
     KEN: Let's try blowing it up. (takes bombs and packs them in the
hole.) Everyone, get back. (As soon as they are out of the way, he throws
the boomerang at the bombs) Bird Run! 

It blows a hole in the bars.

     KEN: It's open! Hurry!

They all rush through. Ryu, in the back, barely manages to squeeze through.

     RYU: Shit, I'm swearing off beer tomorrow!

Outside the base, in the GOD PHOENIX.

     KEN: This is Gatchaman. Dr. Nambu, come in!
     NAMBU: What? Galactor's heading for us?
     KEN: That's right, Doctor. The briefcase I gave you is a transmission
device. Please get rid of it!
     NAMBU: I understand. I'll destroy it immediately.

He does so. Aboard the wasp mecha.

     GAL 3: Huh? The signal stopped. Did they figure it out?
     GAL 4: That's crazy! There's no reason they should've. How'd they
guess?
     
Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     KEN: It'll be all right now.
     JUN: Ken, what was that thing you threw at Berg Katse?
     KEN: Just a souvenir for him to take. A transmission device. Watch.
Now the fun starts.
     JINPEI: It's started transmitting.
     JUN: Will they make such a stupid mistake, do you think?
     KEN: They're Galactors. Of course they will.
     JINPEI: But they're still going to Crescent Coral! (the radar blip
shifts) They turned!
     
At the Galactor base.

     KATSE: What's wrong? We haven't received word from the Jigabachi yet?
It's time to head for the Science Ninja Team's secret base.

Aboard the Jigabachi (the wasp mecha), the Galactors approach their own
base.

     GAL 5: We found it! The Science Ninja Team's base!
     GAL 6: There it is!
     GAL 7: That's not so big. One missile'll finish it off. 

At the base.

     GAL 8: What's that?
     GAL 9: Is it the Science Ninja Team?
     GAL 10: The nerve! Attack!

Aboard the Jigabachi.
     
     GAL 5: They're attacking us!
     GAL 7: Don't worry about it! Attack!

The two groups manage to cause a spectacular amount of destruction to each
other. At the base.

     KATSE: What's going on? (he tries to escape. Some Galactors in the
water grab his feet)
     GALS: Katse-sama, save me! Help me, please!
     KATSE: Get off me!
     GALS: Save us!

Katse gets away. The base and the mecha both blow up.

     JINPEI: We did it! They killed each other!
     RYU: Let's go home. Dr. Nambu must be worried sick about us.

Ken heads for the top dome.

     JINPEI: Aniki, where're you going?
     JOE: Leave him alone, Jinpei. What happened today reopened all the
wounds of his grief.

Ken stands on the top of the GOD PHOENIX, his cape blowing in the wind.

     1. Can anybody say "understatement of the century?"
     2. This is something Red Impulse has said before, on at least one
previous occasion, and moreover Katse wasn't there. Either it was sheer
luck, RI said it at another time in Katse's hearing, or Katse is such a
good mimic, he figured out what sort of thing RI would say from his
analysis of the man's personality. It's really amazing how skilled a mimic
Katse is, considering how little understanding he seems to have of
humanity.
     3. Mari says that this is what you say to a child, something along the
lines of "come back and play sometime." 
     4. Actually, what he was keying on was not only the use of
"Gatchaman", but the use of "kimi", you, instead of his proper name.
Presumably Katse either doesn't know Ken's proper name, or assumes it's a
code name, or something.
     5. At one point, I assumed that after this sequence, Katse would know
that Red Impulse was Ken's father. After relistening to it, however, I
realized that Katse could just as easily draw the conclusion that RI and
Ken were lovers!Script: Gatchaman I #73:           Get Katse!

Translated by Alara Rogers and Futoshi Nagao

A mecha blows up. Aboard the God Phoenix, there is rejoicing.

     RYU: Finally got 'em!
     KEN: Whew. That was close.
     JINPEI: That'll show you, Galactor! You'll never be able to do evil
like this again!
     JUN: At last Berg Katse's met his end.

Nambu appears on viewscreen.

     NAMBU: It's too early to celebrate, team. Your mission has not yet
been accomplished.
     RYU: Whattya mean, Doctor?
     NAMBU: As usual, while you were destroying the Galactor mecha, you let
Berg Katse escape. This is a videotape of the final moments of your battle.
Please watch carefully. Perhaps you didn't see this, but Berg Katse fled
toward the north-northeast in an escape rocket, at Mach 2.5. Usually we
don't follow up too deeply when the enemy runs, but a battle is not a game.
This is our best chance to strike Berg Katse down. It's not too late. This
time, whatever it takes, chase Berg Katse down. Then locate Galactor's true
headquarters.
     KEN: Yes, Doctor. Ryu! Follow, Mach 5!
     RYU: Roger!

The God Phoenix flies, following.

     JUN: We're picking up a mini-rocket! Right 50 degrees, distance 35
kilometers! 
     KEN: You're not getting away this time, Berg Katse! 

Aboard Katse's craft.

     KATSE: Wha-- the Science Ninja Team!? Why haven't they given up yet?
They've never chased me for so long! (into radio) This-- this is Berg
Katse! The Science Ninja Team is pursuing me! Location, point B in valley
X, require immediate assistance! SOS! SOS! 

Aboard God Phoenix.

     JUN: The mini-rocket is in range! 
     JOE: Good! This is the end for Berg Katse. Die! 
     KEN: Wait, Joe! He's in a mini-rocket. You'll blow him to pieces! 
     JOE: Shut up! He killed my parents! Let go! 
     KEN: I said *stop!* We're trying to take him alive! 
     RYU: Wha--
     
Katse's craft blows up. 

     JINPEI: Too late! He must've blown himself up! 
     JUN: Looks that way. 
     JOE: Huh. Just as well. He saved me the trouble. (Ken slugs him. Joe
runs at Ken) Bastard! 

Jun interposes herself. 

     JUN: Stop it, both of you! 
     KEN: (furiously) If you have a problem taking my orders, you can get
off the God Phoenix! 
     JOE: Huh. Another lecture?
     RYU: Now, Ken. If we'd let Katse live, he'd just have continued to do
terrible things. It's better that he's dead.
     KEN: Yeah. I know. But our *mission* was to take him alive and make
him tell us where Galactor HQ is. Don't you think I wanted to kill him as
much as you did? But I put up with it. Understand me, Joe! We are members
of the Science Ninja Team! Before we can fulfill our grudges, we've got to
fulfill the mission!
     JOE: Shit!
     JUN: That's right. It's just like Ken said.
     KEN: Return to base.
     JUN: Wait! Over there!

They see Katse in a seat-chopper, descending.

     JINPEI: Berg Katse!
     KEN: After him, Ryu!
     RYU: Roger!

Katse disappears into the jungle.

     KEN: Shit! We've lost him in the jungle!
     RYU: I can't believe how fast he got away!
     KEN: Land, Ryu!
     RYU: Got it!
     KEN: {You're not getting away, Berg Katse. I'll capture you with my
own hands.}
     
X speaks to some Galactors.

     X: I've been waiting for you, Commando Squad 1. Katse has carelessly
allowed himself to be pursued by the Science Ninja Team. He's at point B in
X Valley. Go rescue him immediately!
     COMMANDO: Yes, sir. We won't fail to rescue him.

They vanish, and X watches Katse running.

     X: Katse, you fool. You're always giving me this kind of trouble-- and
to make matters worse, you had to pick point B to hide out. But I don't
want to lose my beloved servant. I do hope you can be rescued by the
Commandoes.

On the ground. The chopper is in a tree.

     RYU: This is finally the end of Berg Katse.
     JOE: It looks like he hasn't gotten far yet.
     KEN: Don't kill him.
     JOE: I know.

Jinpei puts his ear to the ground.

     JINPEI: Aniki! Katse's footsteps are heading east!
     KEN: Ryu and Joe, cut him off from the right. Jun and I will go left.
     JINPEI: What about me?
     KEN: Jinpei, you take your Helicobuggy and support us.
     JINPEI: Okay.

Katse, running, staggers into a glade and leans on a tree stump.

     KATSE: They're late! Where the hell's the rescue squad? (hears the
Science Ninja Team approach) They're still coming? (1)

Katse slams his fists down on the stump. It opens, revealing a control
panel, and Katse punches some buttons.

     KATSE: Take a look at this, you damned stubborn Science Ninja Team!
First Protection System, initiate!

Guns come out of the trees. Some attack Ken and Jun, who dispatch them.

     KEN: (flinging his boomerang) Bird Run! (to bracelet) This is
Gatchaman. Come in, G-4!
     JINPEI: This is G-4, Jinpei. What's wrong, aniki?
     KEN: It's a trap! There's a whole bunch of traps hidden in the jungle!
Tell Joe and Ryu!
     JINPEI: Roger!

Ryu has stopped by a bunch of bananas.

     JOE: Hey, Ryu! Don't waste time!
     RYU: Don't be too hasty! Look at this! I love these things! (takes a
banana) You can't fight when you're hungry, after all! 

Joe knocks it from his hand.

     JOE: Don't!
     RYU: What the hell are you doing?
     JOE: They might be a trap. You'd better not.
     RYU: A trap? Seems like just regular bananas...
     JOE: Come on, let's go!
     RYU: Okay!

Ryu doubles back, grabs a banana and peels it. It is a bomb. Joe shoots it
out of his hand with the cablegun, and it explodes.

     JOE: Your appetite will be the death of you.

All the bananas peel themselves and fly at the two.

     JOE: Bombs! Run! 

They run from the banana bombs, barely evading them. Joe has to fire his
cable at a clifftop and carry them both to safety.

     JOE: Hang on!

They land. Joe looks disgusted with Ryu. Ryu is contrite.

     RYU: I was wrong to pick the bananas. But-- but they were my favorite.
I'm always causing trouble... I'm not skinny like everyone else, and my
nerves aren't as sharp.

He sees a wounded fawn.

     RYU: It's wounded!

Ryu starts toward it.

     JOE: Wait, Ryu!
     RYU: You think it's another trap? Don't be so paranoid! (Ryu picks up
the animal) Oh, poor thing. You got hurt in the explosion, didn't you?
Don't worry, I'm gonna fix you up just fine. There should be some herbs
around here somewhere!
     
As Ryu looks for herbs, tentacles grab him and try to pull him into a
mechanical flower. Joe moves to protect him, cutting him free with
shuriken.

     JOE: Hurry up and run!

Joe fires a bomb into the flower, which explodes.

     JOE: Stupid bastard! Which is more important-- your life or some
animal's?
     RYU: I can't be as cold as you! I've got to be a human being *before*
being a Science Ninja.
     JOE: What?
     RYU (patching up the leg) This will do the job in place of herbs.
There you go. You'll be all right. Now go. Go on! Go on! Your mother's
waiting for you. (as the fawn runs off) Be healthy!
     JOE: Let's go, Ryu!
     RYU: Okay!

Katse runs across a clearing. Jinpei pursues in the Helicobuggy, with a net
out.

     JINPEI: You're not getting away from the great Swallow Jinpei, Berg
Katse!

Katse throws a bomb and hits the dirt. Jinpei is rocked.

     JINPEI: What's *that?*

Before he can recover, several giant cats leap onto his craft. They shoot
needle-like fangs through his windows, which spew gas.

     JINPEI: Shit, sleepgas! (he crashes)

Ken and Jun see this from a distance.

     KEN: Jinpei! What's wrong? Respond!
     JUN: Jinpei!
     KEN: Jinpei!
     JUN: What's wrong, Jinpei?

The big cats are actually Galactor men in suits. They surround the downed
Helicobuggy.

     COMMANDO: Take him!

Later, Jun and Ken arrive at the crash site.

     JUN: Jinpei's not here.
     KEN: Look at these footsteps. He was probably captured by Galactors.
     JUN: But where'd they take him?
     KEN: This is Gatchaman. G-2, G-5, come in!
     JOE (to bracelet) This is G-2. What is it?
     KEN: We've lost Jinpei. How are things your end, Joe?
     JOE: Oh, it's been one thing after another. We finally managed to run
Katse down, but we lost him in this weird place here.
     RYU: It looks like we've run into a native village.
     KEN: All right, we'll be right there. Keep an eye on it. Okay, Jun,
let's get back to the GOD PHOENIX fast.
     JUN: Roger!

Joe and Ryu are on a cliff above a clearing. There is some sort of ceremony
going on, with men in dark robes bent in supplication to an idol carved
into the ice of a cliff-face. A man with a scythe steps onto the dais.

     HIGH PRIEST: Begin!
     ROBED MEN: Mammothun! Mammothun!

A really strange-looking bird, tied to a spit, is moved toward a fire.

     JOE: What's that bird?
     RYU: Ssh!
     HIGH PRIEST: O our god Mammothun! We have prepared a sacrifice for
You, so spare us from Your anger!
     
A Bird Scramble comes on the bracelets.

     JOE: It's Bird Scramble!
     RYU: That strange bird couldn't be Jinpei, could it?
     
The bird twitches, and its facemask falls off. It's Jinpei, in a weird
outfit.

     JINPEI: It's so hot!
     RYU: Jinpei!
     JOE: It's him!
     JINPEI: It's so hot! Somebody! Save me!
     RYU: Jinpei!

He starts down toward Jinpei. Joe holds him back.

     JOE: Fool! If you go now, you'll suffer the same fate as him!
     RYU (jerking his arm away) You might be cold by nature, but not me!
     
Ryu heads down the mountain. Joe folds his arms.

     JOE: Huh! Do what you want.

Ryu knocks out one of the supplicants and takes his robe. The man is
wearing a familiar uniform underneath.

     RYU: Hey! He's a Galactor!
     JOE: Jeez, he can be a pain sometimes!

In the robe, Ryu crawls forward until one of the men pulls his robe off
him.

     HIGH PRIEST: He has interfered with our sacred ceremony! Seize him!
     RYU: Come on, then! I'm Owl Ryu of the Science Ninja Team!
     GAL: Take him!
     JINPEI: Ryu, you're wonderful! You're the best in the Science Ninja
Team!

Ryu beats up some Galactors. The High Priest puts his scythe to Jinpei's
neck.

     HIGH PRIEST: Stop, Ninja Team! Do you want me to kill him?
     JINPEI: Ryu, get them! Don't worry about me!
     HIGH PRIEST: Shut up, brat!
     
The High Priest prepares to kill Jinpei. Joe fires his cablegun at the
scythe and pulls himself in, knocking the High Priest to the ground. He
puts the blade of the scythe to the Priest's neck.

     JOE: Just stay still, Berg Katse!
     JINPEI: Huh? That's him?
     RYU (freeing Jinpei): This is the village that was established for
Berg Katse's cover. (2)
     COMMANDO: You're up to your usual standards, Science Ninja Team. We
are the Commando Squad that was sent to rescue Katse-sama.
     JOE: Huh! I'm sorry to say you came all this way for nothing. Make a
wrong move and I'll slice Katse's neck open!

Katse magically gets out of his robe and goes running off. The empty robe
falls to the ground. (3) Katse runs for an elevator transport at the other
end of the dais.

     JOE: Shit!
     JINPEI: Wait!
     RYU: Coward!
     JOE: Shit! That damned Katse!
     JINPEI: We were so close!

The idol turns out to be a mecha buried in ice. Mammothun, a mammoth-shaped
mecha, surfaces as the ice cracks.

     RYU: It's a mammoth mecha! 

Ice falls around them.
     
     JOE: Run!
     KATSE (aboard mecha) So you've shown up again, you Science Ninja
nuisances? This is our trump card! Galactor's pride, Mammothun, will crush
you!

Mammothun shoots an air blast at the God Phoenix. Aboard.
     
     KEN: It looks like they're using their mecha as an ace in the hole, to
run away!
     JUN: We've got to rescue the others first!

They lower a platform to the rest of the team. Katse steps up Mammothun's
air blast attack.

     KATSE: Are you trying to run away?
     JUN: Ken, hurry!
     KEN: I know!

They successfully pull the other three into the God Phoenix.

     KATSE: Shit, you damned--! I'll show you now!
     JOE: Ken, you saved us!
     RYU: That was rough.
     JINPEI: Onechan...
     KEN: It's too early to relax. Now the real battle begins!
     KATSE: You fools, nothing will save you!
     JOE: All right, here's an Ultra Bird Missile for you!

Joe hesitates.

     KEN: Joe, shoot at the mecha's foot-- that way you won't kill Katse!
Hurry!
     RYU: What're you waiting around for? It's too dangerous for us to go
in any closer?
     JUN: What's wrong, Joe?
     JINPEI: Hurry up!
     RYU: *Hurry!* (shoves Joe out of the way) You idiot! I'll blow it to
pieces-- Huh?

There is a stampede of deer running in front of the mecha's foot.

     RYU: I see. If we fire now, we'll kill them! (looks at Joe) Joe, you--
     JOE: Ken, this isn't a good place to fight. Why don't we head for the
mountains?
     KEN: All right. Ryu, lead the mecha away.
     RYU: Gotcha!
     KATSE: Damn you, GOD PHOENIX, are you trying to get away? Trying to
lead us into the mountains? Even if you try to hide up there, I'll drop a
mountain of ice on you with a missile!
     JOE: Come on, come closer! This time I'll get you! Berg Katse...

Mammothun approaches the God Phoenix-- and starts slipping.

     KATSE: Oh shit! The mecha's weight is crumbling the ledge!
     KEN: Go up, full power!
     RYU: Roger!
     JOE: Now!
     KATSE: Fire!

Mammothun fires, as Joe's missile hits the ledge under it. Its own missile
hits an icy mountainside, causing an avalanche. The ledge breaks under
Mammothun, and it slides into a crevice.

     GALS: What's wrong?
     KATSE: No good! We're falling!
     GALS: Run!
     KATSE: You fools! You failed again!

Mammothun falls to the bottom of a crevice and is buried under the
avalanche.

     KEN: Damn. Once more, we failed to take Katse alive.
     JINPEI: But this is *really* the end of him.
     JOE: Who can say? I won't be sure till I see his body with my own
eyes.
     JINPEI: Uh-- yeah, I guess so...
     JUN: That's right. And even though we've taken Katse out, Galactor's
true headquarters is still intact.
     KEN: Until we destroy that headquarters completely, there'll be a
second or even a third Katse.
     RYU: But why has Galactor planted so many deadly mecha in a place like
this?
     KEN: It means their HQ must be around here somewhere. (4)
     RYU: I see.
     JOE: Huh! I should've shot the mecha's stomach with a missile.
     RYU: That's okay! That'll be a pleasure for next time! 
     

General Notes: No, it's not a hallucination. Katse doesn't leave in an
escape craft. In the next episode, we learn that Mammothun and all aboard
survived the crash mostly intact. This proves my theory that if Katse were
forced to stay aboard a mecha as it went down, that mecha's survival
chances would be vastly improved.

1. Thus proving that there is actually a purpose to those ridiculous ears.
2. Nani? Cover where? Wouldn't it have made more sense for Katse to hide
where the Ninja Team couldn't have found him than to pull off this
ridiculous charade? This is one of the instances where the BOTP version--
in which it really was a Spectran worship ceremony for the Luminous One--
makes a bit more sense.
3. The *only* way to explain this is teleportation. Either that, or Joe was
being a real bonehead and not watching Katse for the several minutes it
would have taken Katse to worm out of the costume, get out from under the
scythe, and get to his feet. I like teleportation, myself.
4. It doesn't, actually. I don't think there are any jungles close enough
to Karakoram to make a difference.
Script: Gatchaman I #88                           The Monstermech Snake 828

translated by Alara Rogers and Osamu Ishihara, with assistance from Naoto
Kadowaki

A man on a street corner machine-guns passersby. We see his picture on a
screen.

     NAMBU: This man is a mass murderer. His case is the worst in recent
history-- he gunned down a number of passersby on a street in Huntwall for
no apparent reason, and was sentenced to life in Rosenberg Prison. 
     JOE: Why wasn't he executed? 
     NAMBU: The death penalty was abolished worldwide 10 years ago. 
     KEN: What's the problem then? If he's in prison, why are we being told
about him? 
     NAMBU: I would like you to ask him something. 
     RYU: Why do you want us to do it? You ask him. 
     NAMBU: He can't speak. Someone deliberately made him mute, as a
protection against possible capture. 
     JOE: Huh? 
     JUN: So how do we get information from him if he can't speak? 
     NAMBU: You're the Science Ninja Team. I'll leave it up to you. 
     JINPEI: You'll just leave it to us? Doesn't that kind of leave it at
random? 
     NAMBU: There is some indication that he may have gotten himself
arrested deliberately. 
     RYU: That's ridiculous! Who'd want to go to jail? 
     NAMBU: In prison, his safety is guaranteed. Outside, his life is in
danger. 
     KEN: So he was being pursued by some terrible enemy, and he escaped
and got himself arrested? 

Nambu takes photos out of his desk and hands them to Ken. 

      NAMBU: He was carrying this. 
     
Ken, Jun and Jinpei flip through the pictures-- they are of a little girl,
taken over time, as she grows older.
     
     KEN: Pictures, huh?
     JUN: Pretty, isn't she? 
     JINPEI: Is she? She looks too intense. 
     
Ken focuses on the last photograph. 

     KEN: Hey! This is the woman Galactor captain! 
     
Everyone gasps. 
     
     KEN: She looks young here, but faces don't change all that much. 
     
Nambu shows them a burnt notebook from his desk. 
     
     NAMBU: Along with the pictures, he was carrying this-- the college
records of this woman student. The surprising thing is that she has an IQ
of 280.
     JUN: 280 IQ? That's two or three times ours! (1)
     NAMBU: Ken, please look at the back of that picture. 

Ken does so. 

     KEN: There's something written here. (in sudden shock) Berg Katse! 
     JOE: Berg Katse?! (he takes the picture from Ken) If that's who this
is... I see now. That guy figured out Berg Katse's secret, so Galactor had
to try to kill him. 
     JUN: That explains why we never saw Berg Katse and the woman Galactor
captain together at the same time. (2)
     JINPEI: Yeah. If Berg Katse and the woman Captain are the same person,
that makes sense. 
     KEN: Katse, a woman? I can't believe it... I've beaten and throttled
Katse several times. It's hard to tell with that thick costume of his, but
underneath his body is hard, muscular... It's hard to believe he could be a
woman.
     RYU: Well, I don't think that woman's Katse. 
     JINPEI: How come? 
     RYU: Because. That woman's got an IQ two or three times ours, but
Katse's not that smart. 
     JINPEI: Hmm. Yeah, you're right. Katse's stupid. 
     RYU: So that can't be him. 
     JINPEI: Yeah, I agree with you. 
     
Ken has been flipping through the notebook. 
     
     KEN: Doctor, was this all he was carrying? 
     JOE: Why? 
     KEN: The records for every other year are missing. 
     JUN: Maybe they burned? 
     NAMBU: Well, what we know beyond question is that Galactor went after
this man for his possession of these photographs and the record. I don't
know whether this means that Katse is a woman, or whether there's some
other secret involved here. But apparently, from Galactor's point of view,
this secret is a very important thing. So I want you to go find out what
this means from that man. 
     
Overlord X speaks to Katse. 

     X: Berg Katse, you must not fail this time. The man who knows your
secret is in Rosenberg Prison. 
     KATSE: Yes, Overlord, but he can't talk. Don't worry. 
     X: Idiot! How many times has this soft attitude of yours caused you to
fail? If anyone else were to learn what you truly are, my secret would come
out as well. Then our own men would turn against us, and Galactor would
tear itself apart. Can you understand this simple concept, you fool?
     KATSE: (scared) Yes... 
     X: That man who ran from us has proof of what we hold most important.
He stole your secrets, made threats-- even for a chief executive of
Galactor, that's too much. In the end, he's made himself a danger-- don't
you realize he's *betrayed* us?
     KATSE: Yes, sir. 
     
In front of the 828 squad. 

     KATSE: Traitors must be dealt with. That is the iron-clad law in
Galactor. You 5 are to infiltrate the prison and eliminate that man. 
     CAPTAIN OF THE 828 SQUAD: I understand, Katse-sama. The Snake 828
Monstermech Squad will take care of it. Please excuse us. 
     KATSE: I'm leaving it to you. This mission is necessary to the
survival of Galactor.    

The God Phoenix is flying. Scene shifts to a college. 

     NARRATOR: The Science Ninja Team has separated into two groups. Joe,
Jinpei and Ryu are going to Rosenberg Prison to get information, while Ken
and Jun are at Century College, where the woman Galactor captain spent her
college years.  

In a classroom. 

     PROFESSOR HOWARD: I remember her well. She was the kind of genius that
appears only once in several hundred years.
          KEN: The record here is missing every other year. 
     HOWARD: Because she transferred. She attended another school in the
other years. 
     JUN: Attended another school? Doesn't that mean she switched schools
every year?
     HOWELL: Her father worked in trade. Imports and exports. But there was
something odd about her. 
     
There are birds feeding outside the window. 

     KEN: Odd? In what way? 
     HOWELL: One day, I went to a scholastic conference, and met Professor
Hume, who was teaching that student at another school. I asked him about
her. But he said that, firstly, his student was not a genius-- rather,
considerably below average-- and secondly, that his student was not a woman
at all. He was a man. (3 )
     
The birds fly off. 

     HOWARD: I'm not sure we were talking about the same student. But when
she graduated, the records rooms of both schools were set on fire. All
documents on her and on the other student were burned. 

Elsewhere on campus.

     HOWARD (V.O): The truth is, I was quite surprised when you came here
and said you'd seen a copy of her records. Why is it that only this copy
remains? Who pulled this document out of the fire?
     KEN: Well, Jun?
     JUN: Well. She was a woman when she went here, but after she changed
schools she appeared as a man?
     KEN: Was it someone else entirely, or was it a disguise? The man in
the prison must know. I'll bet he was the one who pulled this record out of
the fire. Katse found out, and is now attacking him.

Missiles go by.

     KEN: What's that sound?

They hit a building and blow it up.

     JUN: Ken, that's the professor's room!
     KEN: Damn those Galactors! Jun, we don't have time to stand around!
The next target is likely to be Rosenberg Prison!

Aboard God Phoenix. 

     NARRATOR: At the same time, Joe, Jinpei and Ryu were waiting at the
bottom of a lake near Rosenberg Prison. 
     RYU: We sure they're going to come? It seems to me maybe we might be
taking that too much for granted. 
     JOE: There's something approaching! 
     RYU: Where? 
     JOE: Left 30 degrees, two thousand meters! 
     JINPEI: The lake's too murky. We can't see whatever it is clearly
enough!  
     JOE: It's not going all that fast. Shut down the engine noise. 
     RYU: All right. (he does so, and there is a very loud rumbling) Yow!
What's that noise? 
     
The water bubbles, and something begins to appear. 

     RYU: What *is* that thing? 
     JOE: Don't be so scared. 
     JINPEI: There it is!
          RYU: It looks like a lot of snakes coming at us! Whatta we do,
Joe? 
     JOE: We shouldn't move until Ken and Jun show up. Wait a minute and
watch it. 
     
At the prison, the guards notice the bubbling waters. 
     
     GUARD 1: Look at that! 
     GUARD 2: What is it?? 
     
The Snake Monstermech heaves out of the water.

     GUARD 1: There it is!! 
     
Aboard the Monstermech. 

     BLACKBIRD: We've arrived. We're in front of Rosenberg Prison now. 
     CAPTAIN: All right, set the missiles! 
     
The mouths of the serpents open, with missiles poking out. Aboard the God
Phoenix. 
     
     RYU: They're getting their missiles ready to attack! 
     JOE: Ryu, harass'em so they can't! 
     RYU: Got it! 
     
The God Phoenix flies out of the water. Aboard the Serpent. 

     BLACKBIRD: Captain, it's the God Phoenix. 
     CAPTAIN: So they've showed up? (he looks at closeup of it) Look at the
God Phoenix. The middle fin is missing. That means they're as weak as any
ordinary plane. Fire the missiles! 
     BLACKBIRDS (in unison) How do you know? 
     CAPTAIN: Katse-sama told me so. They're not at full strength without
five members. The middle fin is from the G-1. If it's missing, that means
Gatchaman isn't there! 
     
Missiles are fired. The God Phoenix dodges. 

     CAPTAIN: All they do is run away! (God Phoenix is in targeting device)
Aim carefully. NOW!! 
     
The God Phoenix dodges missiles. Some combat fighters show up. 

     CAPTAIN: Fighter planes? No problem. When they're in range, shoot them
down! 
     
The fighters proceed to harass the Galactors. 

     JOE: Good work! Hang in there! 
     
Then the Galactors proceed to eliminate the fighter planes. Their mecha
approaches the prison. 

     CAPTAIN: Irritants! Grab them! 
     
The mecha proceeds to pin the God Phoenix. 

     JOE: Ryu, isn't there some way to get out of here? 
     RYU: If I knew a way, I'd've done it already! 
     JINPEI: What could aniki and onechan be *doing?*

Aboard mecha. 

     CAPTAIN: Bring us up slowly! (mecha head comes even with the God
Phoenix) All right, fire now! 
     
The mecha head blows up. 

     CAPTAIN: What's going on?! 
     BLACKBIRD: Captain, it's Gatchaman!! 
          CAPTAIN: What?? 
     
Ken and Jun have arrived, flying and waterplaning respectively. Ken fires. 

     JINPEI: It's Ken! 
     JOE: Whew! That's a relief. 
     
Aboard mecha. 

     BLACKBIRD: Over there, too! 
     CAPTAIN: What?? 
     
Jun is also causing havoc. 

     JOE: Jinpei, we don't need to stick around quietly, you know. We can
go out, too. 
     JINPEI: Got it! 
     JOE: Ryu, take over. 
     RYU: I know, already! 
     
Joe and Jinpei go out to their vehicles, and proceed to smash the remaining
snake heads. 
     
     BLACKBIRD: Captain... 
     CAPTAIN: They actually did it. They're even more formidable than I'd
heard. If they'd joined Galactor, one of them could easily have become the
supreme leader. 
     BLACKBIRD: You shouldn't praise our enemies! 
     CAPTAIN: Operation Zero! 
     BLACKBIRDS: Huh? 
     CAPTAIN (turning): When we became members of Galactor, our emotions
became zero. 
     BLACKBIRD: I understand. I hope you succeed, Captain. 
     CAPTAIN: Farewell, everyone. (he leaves) 
     BLACKBIRDS (in unison) Farewell, Captain-san. 

Aboard G-1. 

     KEN: That's strange. They've disappeared. (to communicator) Everyone
into the God Phoenix! Hurry! 
     
Aboard God Phoenix. 

     RYU: There they are again! What a monster! 
     KEN: Look! (the full body of the mecha has emerged, and flies at the
God Phoenix) They're trying to ram us! 
     
The God Phoenix flies away. So does the mecha, in the other direction. 

     KEN: Follow them! (the God Phoenix flies in at the mecha) 
     JOE: They've changed their tactics. All they're doing is running away.

     KEN: Dammit! We defeated a decoy manuever-- their objective is to kill
the man in prison! 

Aboard mecha. 

     BLACKBIRD: Slow down! Begin the setup. We'll self-destruct and take
the God Phoenix with us. 
     RYU: Ken! They've slowed down! 
     KEN: Do a 180! 
     RYU: Roger! 

The God Phoenix barely escapes as the Snake Monstermech blows up. Climbing
onto the prison wall, the Captain salutes the light in the sky. 

     CAPTAIN: Well done. 

Around a corner, a pair of guards turn. 

     GUARDS: Who's there! 

The Captain smiles ferociously. Back at the God Phoenix. 

     KEN: We barely got away there. If we'd been a second late in turning,
the blast would've caught us, too.

The Captain advances on the terrified man in the prison, bending his bars
out and stepping in. He takes the man's head in hands and begins to crush
it. The Science Ninja Team leap down onto the prison. 

     KEN: Hurry! 

In the prison cell, the Captain turns as the Ninja Team arrive.

     CAPTAIN: You live up to my expectations, Science Ninja Team, to get
here after escaping the Zero Operation. But you're too late. (drops the
body to the floor) My job here is over. 
     KEN: You're not human! Do you think it's wonderful that your comrades
died? 
     CAPTAIN: Our feelings are zero, nothing! All we think of is loyalty to
Galactor. 
     JINPEI: Damn you! (he throws his bolos. The Captain catches them.) 
     CAPTAIN (contemptuously): What is this toy? 
     
Joe attempts to slug him. The Captain throws him into the wall. Ken attacks
physically and is also repulsed. Jun flings her yo-yo, and he uses it to
pull her to the floor. 

     KEN: Bird Run! (throws boomerang-- Captain catches it and crushes it) 
     CAPTAIN: Another toy! 
     
Joe attacks again. The Captain grabs him, pushes him against the wall,
takes Joe's gun and puts it to Joe's throat.      
     CAPTAIN: Is this a toy too, eh, Science Ninja Team? 
     JUN: Joe! 
     CAPTAIN: Ha! The enemy Galactor fears so much is just a bunch of kids,
playing with toys. 

He laughs, and shouts "Die!"  Jinpei covers his eyes, but the thing has
fired backward partway, pushing him away from Joe. 

     CAPTAIN: This-- this is impossible-- 

He fires harder, and sends himself into the wall, snapping his neck in the
process. Joe picks up the gun. 

     JOE: Sorry about that. I forgot to tell you that mine's a rather
disobedient toy. 
     KEN: If we hadn't left Ryu with the God Phoenix, maybe his strength
could have handled this.
     JOE: He had a lot of strength for a Galactor. 
     KEN (upset) We lost our chance. Berg Katse's true identity is still a
mystery. 
     JUN: Even though he couldn't speak, I'm sure we'd've thought of a way
to find out what we wanted from him...
     KEN (startled) Wait a minute! There's still a chance! Professor Howard
was telling us how when the woman we thought was Katse changed schools, it
was a man who appeared. There was a professor who knew that man!
     JUN: Professor Hume! I'm sure of it!
     KEN: If we go ask him, we might learn something! Hurry, let's contact
Dr. Nambu! 
     
Aboard God Phoenix, they talk to Dr. Nambu. 

     KEN: Do you understand, Doctor? 
     NAMBU: Yes. Professor Hume's retired from the school, leading a
Spartan life in the country of Inderia. It's said he's very eccentric. I
don't know if he'll tell us willingly or not.

A red car pulls up outside a tenement building. The woman Galactor captain
laughs softly to herself, getting out of the car. She goes up the stairs.
Inside a room, an old man with no shirt is reading the newspaper. There's a
knock at the door. 

     OLD MAN: Yes, come in. 

She comes in and shuts the door behind her.

     OLD MAN: Huh? Who're you? 

The Captain smiles. Downstairs, the Science Ninja Team are outside the
building. 

     JINPEI: Wow! This is a radical car! (4)
     RYU: This car doesn't look like it belongs in this neighborhood. 
     KEN: At last, we're going to learn who Berg Katse really is. 
     JUN: If Professor Hume says that the one student might have been in a
disguise... 
     JOE: Then that'll mean Berg Katse is the woman Captain. 
     
Ken, Jun and Joe start up the stairs. 

     RYU: I hate to keep harping about the same thing, but Berg Katse isn't
that smart.    

Ken and the others run into the old man, who is short and wearing only a
towel around his waist. 

     KEN: Ah-- excuse me. Where does Professor Hume live? 
     OLD MAN: It's right ahead of you. 
     KEN: Thank you. 
     OLD MAN: (passing Ryu and Jinpei on the stairs) You're all wearing
these strange capes. Are they the fashion nowadays? 
     JINPEI: Dirty old man! 

Ken knocks on the door. It swings open. 

     KEN: Professor Hume, we're the Science Ninja Team-- Oh! 
     
The old man they just saw is lying bent over on the bed, obviously dead.
Berg Katse is at the wheel of the red car. 

     KATSE: Even you'll never guess my true nature, Science Ninja Team.
You're only normal human beings! 

Outside. 

     KEN: We've been defeated. The old man we met on the stairs-- that was
Berg Katse. 
     JINPEI: But Ken, that old man was practically naked, and he was a lot
shorter than Katse always is!
     RYU: She's good at disguise, but *that* good? Every way you looked at
it, she was a man-- an *old* man!
     JUN: Katse was making fun of us. All we could think was that she was a
woman--
     KEN: When we think Katse's a woman, she's a man. When we think he's a
man, he's a woman! Is he even human?
     JOE: Doesn't matter. It's not important whether Katse is a woman or a
man. Berg Katse is an enemy of the peace, and our job's to kill him or her
and restore it. That's all! That's enough!
     NARRATOR: Again, Berg Katse's true nature was not revealed. Overlord X
told Katse that if his true nature was revealed, it would mean the
destruction of Galactor. When will the Science Ninja Team learn the truth? 

Notes: Osamu Ishihara apparently can't speak Japanese. That's the
conclusion I have to draw after going through this script at length, and
discovering such amusing things as: the line in the original version I did
with Osamu where Howard says that Katse's father was schizophrenic was
actually that he was into imports and exports; "living at 03" is actually
"living a Spartan life" (I *think*; but then I never claimed to be a native
speaker either, and I *know* they didn't say 03); the reason Nambu wanted
to know this secret so badly is that Galactor wanted it kept secret so
badly; and finally, that the man in the prison was blackmailing Katse with
the information. This is sad-- I can't understand how Osamu could have
gotten so much of it wrong, when *I*, a non-native speaker, can hear these
things. Maybe it was just because he didn't care. I got Naoto Kadowaki to
provide me with the exact Japanese lines in the places I couldn't confirm
for myself.

     1. Jun's counting wrong. Twice her IQ, maybe, but three times? That'd
give Jun and co. an IQ of 90. I don't think so.
     2. On the other hand, considering how rarely they saw the woman
captain at all, I don't see why this is a big mystery.
     3. What they seem to be implying here is that Katse is stupid as a man
and smart as a woman. This might explain why such a supposed genius acts
like an idiot, but it's a ridiculous idea-- not only does ep. #102 directly
contradict it, but if Katse were only a genius in her female form, why
would it be the male form we see most often? Surely X would want Katse
operating at optimum? My speculation is that Hume thought Katse was stupid
because Katse couldn't handle Hume's class.
     4. This car made appearances in #81, and I think in #79, as well. Script: Gatchaman I #90       Matangar, the Armored Iron Monster

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

     We see Berg Katse, standing in a spotlight. Suddenly gunfire starts to
rake Katse, and we realize this is a dummy. The dummy's head blows off, and
we see Joe in his car, in a mecha hangar. Jinpei stands beside him.

     JINPEI: You're up to par, Joe! Berg Katse doesn't stand a chance
against you.
     JOE: What are you talking about? That was *bad.* We've got to be able
to take Katse out with one shot.
     RYU: That's right. Berg Katse can get away before you know it, so you
have to get the bullseye in one shot.
     JINPEI: Whenever Katse's in danger, that Overlord X thing pops up.
     JOE: That's why we have to be able to shoot him in a hundreth of a
second-- no half that.
     KEN: Hey, Joe. We're just here to check on our vehicles. Not to shoot
people.
     JOE: I know, so that's what I'm doing. Checking on my vehicle. (He
gets out and starts fooling with the barrel of the Condor Machine) Well, if
I polish the barrel a bit more, it'll shoot faster...
     KEN: (comes over to Joe) You don't seem to understand. I didn't say
for you to check on your weapons.
     JOE: I think this is more important.
     KEN: I wonder if we'd do better if we didn't use our weapons at all?
     JOE: (stands angrily) Cut the crap! You were the one who said you
wanted weapons on the vehicles in the first place!
     JINPEI: Yeah, you're the one who said fighting Galactor isn't a day on
the racetrack, aniki!
     KEN: Right. That's true...but I've grown afraid to use our weapons
recently.
     JOE: Oh, I see. So you've given up on revenge for your father. Well,
don't worry-- I'll take care of Berg Katse instead. (Ken tosses his wrench
down in anger and stalks out.)
     JUN: Ken!
     RYU: Funny how Ken's down in the dumps.
     JOE: He's tired. Maybe he should take a vacation. But I'll take care
of it. I'll shoot Berg Katse down with a single shot to the head! (1)

He throws his arm out as if landing a punch or pointing an imaginary gun at
an equally imaginary Berg Katse. Elsewhere, the real Katse moans as if
struck, and holds his head.

     GALACTOR: What's wrong, Katse-sama?
     KATSE: My head is killing me.
     GALACTOR: Maybe you're tired. Haven't you been getting any sleep
lately?
     KATSE: No. The quality of Galactor soldiers is going down, the
Overlord has been in a rage-- it's just been one horrible thing after
another.
     VOICE (Dr.Finger): Perhaps it's time you retired. 

Katse looks up, outraged. Dr Finger is leaning insolently against the
inside of the doorway.

     KATSE: Dr.Finger! How dare you be so disrespectful to me!
     FINGER: Berg Katse. I've come with an order from Overlord X.
     KATSE: What are you talking about? I received no communications from
the Overlord.
     FINGER: I imagine not. Because of your continual failures, the
Overlord has been thinking of dispensing with you.
     KATSE: *What??*
     FINGER: (Sits on Katse's desk) Calm down. I'd invented a machine to
destroy the Science Ninja Team, for their interference with Galactor's
plans. Then I myself offered to the Overlord that I would go and destroy
Gatchaman. I didn't want you wrecking the mecha that I created. 
     KATSE: And-- and what did the Overlord say to that?
     FINGER: He had no objections. As a scientist, he trusted me. (Katse is
shaking with rage) Then he promised me that if I succeeded, I would be
given *your* post.
     KATSE: It-- can't be! I can't believe the Overlord would...
     FINGER: If you don't believe me, why don't you ask the Overlord
yourself? There's a tv-phone over there. Why don't you call him? 
     KATSE (furiously, but defeated): All right then, Dr. Finger. Do
whatever you want!
     FINGER: Good. Oh, and clean up this room for me. It's going to be mine
when I come back.

He leaves. Katse puts his hands on his head.

     GAL: Katse-sama, are you all right?
     KATSE: Damned fool. He's underestimating the Science Ninja Team. If he
thinks he can beat them with nothing but the power of science and weaponry,
he's got another think coming!

Finger to Galactors.

     FINGER: Self-confidence! You have no confidence that you can beat the
Science Ninja Team! Deep in your hearts, you feel there's no way you can
win. Well, have confidence, and believe in me and my specially-designed
mecha. Charge!

Galactors charge into mecha. Finger boards.

     FINGER: I have no intention of running away like Berg Katse. Believe,
and follow me!

The Matangar mecha launches. In his chambers, Katse watches it take off.

     KATSE: Hmph! Do what you like, and fail. I'll just take myself a nice
long vacation.
     
Ken stands in a graveyard, appraching a certain stone.
     
     KEN: Father...Maybe I can't avenge you, Father. I don't know anymore.
Will peace return? Even if we destroy Galactor...will peace return? There
are a lot of people like Berg Katse in the world. If Galactor disappears,
maybe there'll be another evil organization just like it. (clutches the
stone) And yet, for the sake of this pipe dream, this uncertain hope for
peace...! Look at this, Father. Look at my hands-- see how they're covered
with blood! Father!!
     JUN: (approaching) Ken... so you were here after all. When we kept
calling you on the bracelet and there was no response, we figured you had
to be here.
     KEN: What's happened?
     JUN: A Galactor mecha has shown up on Micron Island.
     KEN: What?!

In Dr. Nambu's office.

     NAMBU: (Showing a map of Micron Island) As you see, there are seven
cities on Micron Island, with an extinct volcano in the middle. In other
words, that volcano is within the line of sight of every city on the
island. The Galactor mecha is on top of the extinct volcano.
     JOE: What do they want?
     NAMBU: To strike at you, the Science Ninja Team.
     JOE: Huh! That damned Berg Katse is such a petty little coward.
     NAMBU: No, it isn't Katse this time.
     KEN: Huh?
     NAMBU: This is a tape that ISO received. Listen to this. (He plays the
tape.)
     FINGER: Science Ninja Team, I am Dr.Finger of Galactor. As you receive
this tape, our mecha Matangar will have occupied the island of Micron. From
now on, we intend to destroy one city every twelve hours. However, our
target is not the lives of the citizens here--rather it is your own five
lives, Science Ninja Team. If you wish to protect the people of Micron
Island, you will give your own lives up to us.
     RYU: He's certainly self-confident enough.
     JINPEI: He sounds tougher than Katse.
     JUN: Doctor, when did this tape arrive?
     NAMBU: This morning.
     JOE: Then that means they're going to attack soon.

Aboard Matangar.

     GALACTOR: Ready to attack!
     FINGER: All right. Begin.
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1--Fire!

The city begins to be destroyed. Back in Nambu's office.

     KEN: Shit! Obviously there's a lot of people in Galactor like Katse!
(Looks at Nambu) Doctor!
     NAMBU: All right, launch the God Phoenix!

Back on board Matangar.
     GALACTOR: The God Phoenix has arrived!
     FINGER: Don't touch anything. Wait for them to come in.

On the God Phoenix.

     KEN: Ryu! Circle it from the left. Take continuous pictures.
     JOE: What's wrong, Ken? Why don't we attack? We could take it out with
one Super Bird Missile!
     KEN: What are you, blind? Do you really think the bird missles will be
able to do a damn bit of good against that hard shell?
     JOE: What do you mean? We won't know until we try!
     RYU: Ken, we can change the amount of explosive inside the missle.
Maybe it'd work!
     JINPEI: They're just sitting there, without doing anything! This is
our chance, aniki!
     KEN: Ryu, retreat. Take us back to Crescent Coral.
     JOE: *What* did you just say?
     KEN: Do you have a hearing problem? I said 'take us back to Crescent
Coral'.
     JOE: I don't understand you. Explain to me. Why can't we attack?
     KEN: I'm afraid. This man Finger seems very dangerous. Ryu! This is an
order! Head for Crescent Coral!

Back at Crescent Coral.

     JOE: That's what he said, Doctor! Have you ever heard anything so
ridiculous? None of us have the foggiest idea *what* the hell's going
inside Ken's head.
     NAMBU: What's Ken doing?
     JUN: He's developing pictures in the darkroom.

In the darkroom.

     KEN: (Staring at the pictures) Dr.Finger, you're far more frightening
a foe than Berg Katse. I know you've got a trick planned somewhere... (2)

Aboard Matangar.
     FINGER: All right! Attack the second city! (They do so.)

At Crescent Coral.

     NAMBU: (On the phone) This is Nambu...I understand. Thank you for
telling me. (hangs up)
     JUN: Doctor?
     NAMBU: The mecha Matangar has begun to attack the second city.
     JOE: Shit!  (Runs off)
     JUN: Joe!  (Runs after him)
     JOE: (Standing in the doorway of Ken's darkroom) Ken! Yo, Ken,
Matangar's begun to attack the second city.
     KEN: Oh? It's that time again?
     JOE: What the--?! Is that all you have to say?  (starts toward Ken)
     JUN:  (restraining him) Don't, Joe!
     JOE: Let me go, Jun! I understand how you feel but... while he's doing
this, the citizens of Micron Island are being killed!
     JINPEI: That's just what I want to say, too, aniki! Why are you being
such a coward?
     JOE: He's got this sudden attack of cowardice and *he's* our leader?? 
(starts toward Ken again)
     JUN: Wait, Joe!
     RYU:  (holds up his hands placatingly) Hey, wait, Joe. You won't get
anything out of him talking like that. We have to use a lighter touch. 
(approaches Ken) So, Ken, could you please tell us why exactly you're
cowering back like this this time? You've always been ready to jump right
out and attack. Why are you being like this this time?  (Gets angry at
Ken's lack of response) Ken, Why're you being such an ass and not saying
anything to us? Cut the shit!!  (he attempts to attack Ken) 
     JUN: Ryu!!
     KEN: (stands up) Look at this picture. How much explosive would you
say we'd need to put in our Super Bird Missiles to destroy this surface,
Jun?
     JUN: Well... at least one megaton.
     KEN: One megaton. If we use that much we'll blow up the whole island!
     JOE: (horrified) Isn't there any way we can do it with less?
     KEN: If we try it, the Bird Missile will bounce off and blow up a city
instead!
     JINPEI: Isn't there *any* way to destroy Matangar, aniki?
     RYU: We should sneak in!
     KEN: *Where?* Where are we going to get in? Where do you see an
entrance to Matangar, when it's pulled its head in?  (pounds the picture)
Dr. Finger analyzed Berg Katse's failures. He knows our methods.
     JINPEI: (wailing) Then what're we going to do, aniki? What're we going
to do?
     KEN: (noticing something under his hand) Huh? What's this white?  (He
locates a negative) Jun, have this blown up. As fast as possible.
 
In the briefing room, looking at a slide of the picture.

     JUN: It's impossible to blow this up any further. I think these white
parts in the pictures are the mecha's internal lights.
     KEN: That's a vent. It's taking air in from there.
     RYU: We couldn't get through that.
     JINPEI: How big is this vent?
     KEN: It's the size of one bullet.  (to Nambu) Doctor, could you please
make us a special bullet?
     JOE: What are you going to do?
     KEN: If we can get them to move, there's a way we can do this.
     NARRATOR: Every 12 hours, Matangar attacks another city. The citizens
all know Galactor's purpose is to destroy the Science Ninja Team. They've
begun to curse the Science Ninja Team for not protecting them.  

Shots of Matangar destroying a city. Back at Crescent Coral.

     NAMBU: We managed to do it, Ken!  (presents Ken with a small box)
     KEN: (greatly relieved) Did you really, Doctor?
     NAMBU: But there's only one.  (A bullet-sized missile is inside the
box)
     KEN: One shot... Joe, this is a job for you. Can you hit that vent in
the mecha with one shot?
     JOE: (shocked) With just one shot?
     KEN: Joe, don't think of it as a vent. Think of it as Berg Katse's
head.
 
Aboard Matangar.

     FINGER: What a bunch of weak little children the Science Ninja Team
are. They've only dared to show their face once.
     GALACTOR: Ah, we never thought we'd succeed this well.
     FINGER: The important thing is strategy. Not moving around aimlessly
like Katse.
 
Berg Katse paces in his chambers.

     KATSE: Shit! What the *hell* do the Science Ninja Team think they're
*doing?* They've always been ready to attack *me.* Why don't they attack
Dr. Finger?
     GALACTOR: (horrified) Katse-sama, whose side are you ON?
     KATSE: Shut up! Whose side are YOU on? Dr. Finger's?...Shit...
 
Back on Matangar.

     FINGER: It's time. Attack the fifth city!
     GALACTOR: Is that...? Dr.Finger, it's the God Phoenix!
 
Aboard God Phoenix, Joe, in his car, has been partially lowered out.

     KEN: I leave it to you, Joe. You only get one shot.
     JOE: Ryu, could you please keep the God Phoenix's movement to a
minimum?
     RYU: I *know!* But this wind...
     KEN: Jun, give us a forecast.
     JUN: The wind speed is 25, blowing from the southeast.
     RYU: Ken, why don't we change the angle? There's no way Joe can do it
under these conditions.
     KEN: I'm sorry, but this is the only angle we can do it at.  (to
bracelet) Joe, wait until the wind calms.
     JOE: No, Ken, whether the wind is strong or not I've got to attack,
and I've got to get it right. Otherwise I can't kill Berg Katse. Please
give me the chance!
     KEN: All right, good enough!
 
Aboard Matangar.

     GALACTOR: It looks like they're trying to shoot into our vent.
     FINGER: They're crazy! Their target's just 1 cm wide, and the wind's
too strong from the southeast! And even if they could hit the vent, it
wouldn't do them any good anyway. What a bunch of children!  They're the
famed Science Ninja Team? They're ridiculous!
 
Joe fires, and the inside of the vent explodes. Fire breaks out.

     GALACTOR: Emergency! The fire from the vent is spreading to the
machine room!
     FINGER: *What* did you say? What the hell did they shoot us with?
     GALACTOR: It looks like it's burning the oxygen in the air.
     FINGER: Dammit! They have a way to do that?
 
Aboard God Phoenix.
     
     KEN: That was a special bullet I asked Dr. Nambu to make. But after
that, you came through for us again, Joe.
     RYU: Ken! Matangar's beginning to move!
 
Aboard Matangar.

     GALACTOR: It's impossible to put out the fire, Doctor! Please call an
emergency and let us evacuate!
     FINGER: Shut up! If we go back to the Overlord in failure, all we'll
do is make Berg Katse happy. So we'll fight until the end!
     KEN: Dammit! They're hanging on to us from behind!  (Matangar grasps
the God Phoenix and dives with it into the water) It's a suicide attack.
They're trying to crush us with water pressure!
     NARRATOR: The water pressure grows by each 10 meters in the ocean, and
the God Phoenix can only withstand depths of 2,000 meters.
     KEN: Ryu, open the top dome!
     RYU: We do that and the water'll rush in!
     KEN: No, Matangar's blocking it, so we should be okay.  (They open the
top bubble)
     JINPEI: You're right, aniki. It's okay.
     KEN: Jun, take the G-3. The Jun Rocket!
     JUN: What are you going to do?
     KEN: It looks like Matangar's stomach isn't as hard here. Maybe we can
destroy it?
     JUN: But if Matangar's stomach turns out to be as hard as its back,
the missile will come back to us!
     KEN: It's a 50/50 chance-- Matangar or the God Phoenix.
     RYU: Depth 1200 meters! We can only stand another 800!
     KEN: Jun, hurry!
     JUN: Roger!
 
Aboard Matangar. Everyone but Finger is dead. He is surrounded by a ring of
flame.

     FINGER: A 50/50 chance-- the God Phoenix or Matangar. We're almost at
2000 meters, so the God Phoenix will reach it's limit soon...but it's so
hot, it's so hot...AAAAII!
     KEN: Now!
 
Jun fires. There is an explosion. Eventually, when the mushroom cloud dies
down, the God Phoenix flies out of the water.

     KEN: It was a gamble...but we won it.
     NARRATOR: Ken said it was a life-or-death gamble. But it was a clever
choice for the leader of the Science Ninja Team.

     1. All references to Berg Katse's head were literally references to
his temple.
     2. I do wonder why he thought Finger sounded so much more frightening
than Katse, when he'd never seen Finger in action. See what having a deep
masculine voice can do for you?Script: Gatchaman #91         The Plan to Blow Up the Crescent Base:
Completed

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

Aboard a passenger liner. We see people relaxing and enjoying themselves. 

     NARR: The Toriane, a luxury liner, is sailing across the vast Pacific
Ocean. A large number of ISO researchers are aboard this vessel, in order
to investigate the resources of the ocean floor.

A man is looking through a pair of binoculars. An old man comes up to him.

     OLD MAN: I bet you're looking at all the pretty ladies in their
bikinis, aren't you.
     PASSENGER: Would you like to look? (makes as if to hand the binocs to
old man, then takes them back) Everywhere you look it's just the same--
nothing but sea and sky.
     OLD MAN: I see. Well, we *are* out in the middle of the Pacific.
(giggles) But if you see any pretty mermaids, let me know!
     PASS: You'd like that too, wouldn't you! (as man leaves) Stupid old
man. 

Watching through his binoculars, he sees a submarine surface and a Galactor
wave at him. He sneaks into the ship and plants a device in the engine. A
sailor sees him after he's finished.

     SAILOR: Excuse me! What are you doing here?
     PASS: Ah, well-- I can't find the bathroom. Sorry.
     SAILOR: This is the engine room.
     PASS: Thank you. Sorry.
     SAILOR: This is the first time I've seen someone mistake the engine
room for the bathroom.
     
The passenger rejoins his fellows in a sub. They are all Galactors.
     
     GAL 2: Did it go well?
     PASS/GAL 1: Without a hitch.

Katse appears on the viewscreen.

     KATSE: How did it go?
     GAL 1: I've set up the homing device on the engine as per plan, Katse-
sama.
     KATSE: Good work. Ready the next mission!
     GAL 1: Yes, sir.
     KATSE: I've looked forward to this day for a long time. Let's try this
out. I push the button, and the rockets zero in on the homing device all by
themselves. (presses button) Go!

Missiles are fired, and destroy the ship. Ken is flying, when his
communicator beeps.

     KEN: Yes, this is Gatchaman.
     NAMBU: This is Nambu. There's been an accident. Gather together
immediately.
     KEN: I understand. I'm on my way. (calls Ryu, who is asleep) Ryu, this
is me. Ryu, answer me! Wake up, Ryu! There's been an accident!
     RYU: What-- an accident? Okay! (to himself) It's tough to find time
for a nap.
     KEN: Let's go, Jinpei.
     JINPEI: Wha-- where?
     NAMBU: This is the point at which the Toriane sank. There were 1853
people killed, including ISO scientists. In April of 1912, England's
Titanic sank in Newfoundland waters, killing 1517 people. Until today, that
was the greatest sea disaster in history, but what happened today is even
worse.
     JOE: What was the cause, Doctor?
     NAMBU: It looks as if a powerful missile struck it.
     JOE: So then Galactor was trying to kill the ISO scientists.
     JINPEI: I get it! They said that the Titanic hit an iceberg, but I
betcha it was Galactor that attacked it, right, Joe? (Joe does not reply.)
Right, Ken? (Ken does not reply.) Ryu, what do you think? (Ryu does not
reply.) How about you, onechan? (Jun does not reply) Well, Galactor *has*
been around for a long time, right? Right? (laughs) Okay, so maybe I'm not
paying much attention to history, but...
     NAMBU: We don't know the purpose of Galactor's attack, but there is a
possibility they may launch a second or third assault. So I want you to go
patrol the area.
     EVERYONE BUT KEN: Yes, sir!
     NAMBU: Ken, what's wrong?
     KEN: The truth is... I just don't much feel like going.
     NAMBU: What do you mean, Ken?
     JINPEI: Aniki, don't you feel good?
     KEN: That's not it. It's just gotten to where I can't stand it-- over
and over, the same thing, every damn time. Think about it. We risk our
lives over and over to destroy Galactor's monstermechs, but they'll just
make another one right afterward. They've got the skill and the resources.
     JUN: But we can't abandon our work...
     KEN: I know. I know. But this one time, I just don't want to do it.
     NAMBU: Well, it can't be helped, then. I'll have to ask the United
Nations to take care of it.
     JUN: Ken!
     KEN: Let's go!
     JUN: Huh?
     KEN: I don't like giving in to Galactor, either. Let's go!

Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     JINPEI: A shame we had to go out. I was sleeping so peacefully.
     JUN: Jinpei! The Science Ninja Team are--
     JINPEI: Hey, I know, I know! You don't need to say a word about it,
onechan! My sleepiness went away the moment I saw your beautiful face!
     JUN: Oh, am I really that pretty?
     JOE: Ken! We're almost at the location of the Toriane wreck.
     KEN: All right, dive into the sea!
     RYU: Got it!

Underwater, they see the wrecked ship, and some cameras hidden in a coral
reef see them.

     RYU: There's the wreck of the Toriane! What a tragedy...
     JOE: Shit! Damn you, Galactor, why did you kill those innocent people?

In the Galactor sub, the GOD PHOENIX is on viewscreen.

     GAL 1: Got us a big catch this time. (contacts Katse) Katse-sama, the
GOD PHOENIX has arrived.
     KATSE: Really? They've come already? I knew they'd turn up sooner or
later, but this is amazingly fast, even for them. All right, do it
according to plan! Launch the Homing Operation!
     GAL 1: Yes, sir! Victory to Galactor!

Crab tanks come out to harass the GOD PHOENIX, while the Galactor sub,
unnoticed, attaches itself to the GP's bottom. Aboard the GP.

     JUN: Ken, there's something unusual on radar!
     KEN: What? All right, stop the engines. (here come the crabs) Crab
tanks!
     JOE: I'm gonna blast them!
     KEN: Wait. Let's see what develops.
     JUN: It's incredible, how many there are.
     KEN: Wha-- an ink cloud!

As crab tanks launch ink, Joe fires at them. Aboard the sub.

     GAL 1: The Homing Operation is launched successfully. Retreat!

Aboard the GP, as the crab tanks retreat.

     JINPEI: They're retreating, they're retreating! Hey, crab tanks, if
you're so mad at us why don't you try to fight us?
     JOE: Ryu, follow them! Destroy them all!
     KEN: Don't. We should report to Dr. Nambu first.
     NAMBU (on viewscreen): Crab tanks, you said?
     KEN: Yes. After we launched an Ultra Bird Missile at them, they
disappeared. What should we do? Follow them, or...
     NAMBU: No, wait. Don't follow them. We don't know what could be
waiting for you. That's enough patrolling for today.
     KEN: Yessir. Ryu, take us home.
     RYU: Okay.

In the Galactor base, Katse watches the GP depart.

     KATSE: Yes, go back to your base! This will open the door to
Galactor's final victory! This time, our victory will be complete!

Aboard the GP, Jun watches the ocean scenery.

     JUN: It's so pretty! I wish the surface of the Earth could be this
peaceful.
     JINPEI: Looks peaceful, but it's an eat-or-be-eaten struggle out
there.
     JUN: You don't have a romantic bone in your body, do you, Jinpei?
     JINPEI: Look, onechan! There're remoras! When I get reincarnated, I
want to be reborn as a remora! I could go anywhere without doing any work!
     NARR: Using a trick learned from the remora, Galactor's special sub
has attached itself to the GOD PHOENIX. Gatchaman have not noticed it, and
are returning to Crescent Coral Base.

In the bay, the Galactors detach their sub, and surface.

     GAL 1: That's it. That's their headquarters, Crescent Coral. This time
we'll win for sure. 
     GAL 2: All right, let's do it!

Back at the Galactor base.

     KATSE: That's it! That's Crescent Coral Base! This time-- this time
for *sure*, I'll crush it!

At Crescent Coral.

     GAL 1: (departing the sub) Okay, you stay here by yourself.
     GAL 2: Got it. Be careful.
     GAL 1: All right, we've got to find the engine room and attach this
homing beacon.

In a lab.

     SCIENTIST: Okay, that's it. Make a copy and give it to Dr. Nambu.
     GAL 1: Don't move!
     SCI: Who are you-- Galactor!
     GAL 1: I said don't move!
     SCI 2: Spare us, please!
     GAL 1: Take off your clothes, and fast!

The scientists, divested of their lab coats, lay on the floor, dead no
doubt. The Galactors dress themselves in the lab coats.

     GAL 1: How do I look as a scientist?
     GAL 3: (taking glasses off one of the dead men and putting them on) I
think these would suit me. Do I look more like a scientist?
     GAL 1: Oh, hello, hello, Dr. Galactor.
     GAL 3 (irritated because he can't see) What is this? He's as blind as
a bat! (throws the glasses)

In Nambu's conference room.
     
     NAMBU: We now understand the results of the Toriane investigation.
According to the report, a homing beacon had been attached somewhere on the
ship.
     JUN: So then a member of Galactor must have gotten aboard the ship,
right?
     NAMBU: It's probable that the homing beacon led the missiles to the
ship, which means there must have been a missile launch site nearby.
     JINPEI: But Doctor, when we went to patrol around there, there were
just crab tanks.
     NAMBU: Perhaps the site was hidden in the seaweed, or in back of the
rocks. What's more important is that we do not yet understand Galactor's
objectives. 
     KEN: Come to think of it, the crab tanks retreated way too quickly.
     RYU: Yeah, that's right. Every other time they've attacked us, they've
been damn muleheaded about it.
     JOE: They're just pissed that none of their plans are going right.
     NAMBU: I hope that's all it is.

A technician comes running in.

     TECH: Dr. Nambu, something terrible's happened! Somebody attacked a
group of scientists! 
     NAMBU: What?
     EVERYONE: Huh?
     NAMBU: Search the base! Immediately!
     TECH: Yes, sir!
     KEN: It's Galactor! When we weren't looking, they... Let's go smash
them!
     NAMBU: Wait! Crescent Coral Base itself is Galactor's target. They
have the ability to plant a beacon here, just as they did on Toriane.
(Nambu checks scanners to find a beacon's signal, and doesn't find one.)
But they apparently haven't placed it yet.
     KEN: But, Doctor! They have high technology-- they could've made a
homing beacon that our sensors won't pick up!
     JUN: They must have, to plant it in this base, being a technological
center and all.
     NAMBU: I think you're probably right.
     RYU: So then-- we're in *deep* shit!
     JINPEI: Doctor, whadda we *do*?
     NAMBU: There's only one thing we can do. Ken and Jun, search the base
for the homing device. Everyone else, go out in the GOD PHOENIX and find
the missile launch site. Hurry!
     EVERYONE: Roger!
     NAMBU: {Whatever it takes, we must protect the Crescent Coral Base!}

Aboard the GP.

     JOE: Whatever it takes, we've gotta find the launch site. If we screw
this one up, Crescent Coral will be destroyed!
     JINPEI: We're not gonna let them get away with this! Damn them!
     NARR: The Crescent Coral Base is the greatest base in the world. A
mobile base, floating in the water, it contains a vast number of scientists
and engineers. Huge and complex, the Crescent Coral Base. It is thus almost
impossible to find the homing beacon and the hidden Galactors.
     GAL 1: Here it is!

He and the other two Galactors charge in and defeat a bunch of scientists. 

     SCIENTIST 3: Who--
     GAL 1: This is the place. (plants the beacon) I like this job. It's a
real challenge.
     GAL 4: You did it!
     GAL 1: They'll never find it. Let's get back to the sub and report to
Katse-sama.
     GAL 3: We'll get promotions!

They sneak around a corner.

     GAL 1: A patrol camera! (as it passes) Okay, coast is clear!

Ken sees them, and they see Ken.

     KEN: How are you guys doing?
     GAL 4: Haven't found anything strange yet!
     KEN: I see... Well, they've got to be someplace. If you do see
anything strange, be sure and contact us.

As he turns to leave, he realizes that that's a Galactor pant leg.

     JUN: What's wrong?
     KEN: That's a Galactor! Head him off!
     JUN: Roger!

The Galactors run into Ken.

     GAL 1: Oh, shit!
     KEN: I regret to inform you that this is the end of the line,
Galactor.
     GAL 1: Dammit, and we just had a little ways to go! Damn you,
Gatchaman! Fire!
     KEN: Bird Run!
     GAL 4: Bastard! (throws his coat onto Ken and riddles it with bullets)
He's not there!
     KEN: I'm right here.

Gal 4 runs for it, and runs into Jun.

     JUN: Where did you think you were going?
     GAL 4: Shut up! A woman should stay home and clean house!
     JUN: But I am cleaning house. I'm cleaning out you Galactor trash.

He manages to knock him down. Jun kills him with a feather shuriken, and
looks upset about it. (1)

     KEN: Give it up! We know all your plans. So, where's the homing
beacon? Tell me! Tell me! If you don't, it's curtains for you!
     GAL 1: You talk big, Gatchaman, but you don't look like you're ready
to follow through. Don't waste your time. This base is going to be history
soon.

He throws a knife at Ken. Ken dodges, but it explodes.

     KEN: Dammit, they escaped! Jun, report to Dr. Nambu!
     JUN: Roger!
     KEN: {Don't think you're getting away!}

At sub.

     GAL 2: Huh? They're back?
     GAL 1: We succeeded! Contact Katse-sama!
     GAL 2: All right! (does so) Katse-sama, we've succeeded! 
     KATSE: What? You've done it? I see, I see! Well done! Hurry up and get
out of there!
     GAL 3: All right, submerge!
     KEN: Hold up before you try anything, Galactor!
     GAL 2: What?!
     KEN: If you move, we'll fire this bazooka and take out you and your
mecha. So! Where did you put the homing device!
     GAL 1: Dammit, we were so close!
     KATSE: What's going on?
     GAL 2: We've been surrounded! We can't escape!
     KATSE: All right, all right, don't worry. You don't have to look so
pale. I considered that this might happen, so I prepared a contingency
plan. Listen. Press the red button. Something will happen to surprise them,
and then they won't be able to capture you!
     GAL 2: Yes, sir!
     GAL 1: Oh, clever Katse-sama. He's much smarter than us. Hurry up and
press it! (they do so) All right--

There is an explosion that destroys the submarine and the Galactors inside.

     KEN: Dammit. It's all up to the GOD PHOENIX now.
     
Aboard the GP.

     JOE: Shit, we can't pick'em up on sonar! Maybe they've stopped their
engines! Ryu, how about your side?
     RYU: Nope, not here either.
     JOE: Make another pass. (
     
At Galactor base.

     KATSE: (laughing) The great Katse can't be found so easily. Go on and
waste your time, playing around! Before the GOD PHOENIX can return, the
Crescent Coral Base will be in ruins! (strokes a red button) My lovely
missiles, please make my dreams come true. Give it everything you've got!
(slams the button, and the rockets fire) I've done it! I've really done it!

In Crescent Coral.

     KEN: Jun, how's it going? Have you found it?
     JUN: It's useless! There's no way to find such a tiny thing in such a
huge base--
     KEN: Find it! If you stand around talking, there'll be nothing left of
this base but ruins! We haven't got time to stand around and cry!

In Nambu's chambers.

     TECH: Dr. Nambu, it's an emergency!
     NAMBU: What is it?
     TECH: Sonar has picked up a number of missiles!
     NAMBU: *What?*
     TECH: They're headed this way! Doctor, let's move the base! Give me
the order!
     NAMBU (defeated) It's too late...
     NARR: The passionate viciousness of Berg Katse has sent missiles to
strike at the Crescent Coral Base. Now the fate of Dr. Nambu and the
Gatchaman team hangs in the balance.

     1. This is one of the few times we have it graphically demonstrated
that everybody else *does* in fact carry feather shuriken. Theoretically,
they are everybody's weapon, but Joe uses them so much more than the others
do that it's easy to get the idea that they're just his. Script: Gatchaman I #92            The End of the Crescent Base  

Translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

     TECH: We've picked up incoming missiles! Distance 500 meters!
     NAMBU: Fire the engines! Move the base! 
     TECH: Engine room damaged! Engineers, go and repair it!
     NAMBU: Close first engine! Avoid entering the water!
     TECH: Second wave approaching! Distance 3000 meters!
     NARR: The Science Ninja Team's secret base, Crescent Coral, has been
found by Galactor, who have launched an attack against it. Each missile is
homing in on the beacon in the engine room, thus destroying the engines.
     TECH: Main engine damaged! Main engine damaged! 
     NAMBU: Abandon the camouflage coral reef! It'll crush the gears and
push us into the trench!
     TECH 2: Yes, sir! Abandoning the coral reef!

One of the supports connecting the base to the artificial coral reef on top
fires loose. The other one doesn't.

     TECH 2: Second rocket won't fire! The coral reef is not separating!

The coral reef falls sideways onto the base, pushing it toward the lip of
an abyss.

     KEN: Doctor! If we can't cut that support off, the base will fall on
its side!
     JUN: I'll call the GOD PHOENIX back and have them cut the support
free!
     NAMBU: Stop, Jun!
     JUN: Why, Doctor?
     NAMBU: If the GOD PHOENIX returns, it'll only be ambushed by Galactor!
     TECH: Second computer room damaged! We're beginning to sink!
     KEN: Dammit!
     JUN: Doctor!
     NAMBU: All engineers of Crescent Coral Base, listen! Evacuate the base
immediately! Everyone,  evacuate immediately!
     TECH: We won't abandon the base, Doctor.
     NAMBU: There's nothing more we can do. It's only a matter of time
before the base is completely annihilated!
     TECH: We know. But if we evacuate, it'll mean the end of the Mantle
Project.
     NAMBU: What brave men... Ken, go make all of them evacuate. All we can
do is keep the casualties down.
     KEN: What about you, Doctor?
     NAMBU: I'll be destroying the secret files. They mustn't fall into
Galactor's hands. Hurry! If they don't obey, knock them out and get them to
safety!
     KEN: All right, Jun!
     JUN: Okay!
     
Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     JOE: What is it? What's that noise?
     RYU: Sounds like something blowing up.
     JOE: Our base! Has Galactor already--?
     JINPEI: Can't be! They would've called us, wouldn't they? Wouldn't
they?
     JOE: But it bothers me that we've searched everywhere, yet still
haven't found Galactor. Ryu, back to the base! Top speed!
     RYU: Roger!

In Crescent Coral.

     KEN: This is horrible! Hey! Is anybody there! Hey!
     JUN: Anybody? Anybody! Ken--
     KEN: Hey! Any survivors out there? Hey, anybody!
     TECHS: Over here! Hey!
     KEN: That's all of you? No more?
     TECH: We're the only survivors-- and sooner or later, we're going to
die, too.
     KEN: Stop it! The submarines are all right! Take them and escape!
     TECH: No! If we run away, we're surrendering to Galactor!
     JUN: We're not beaten yet. Please, get away now!
     TECH: We can't. We've been researching the Mantle Project-- we can't
leave and abandon it to Galactor.
     KEN: If you don't obey me, I'll knock you out and carry you to safety!
That's an order from Dr. Nambu!
     JUN: Listen, everyone-- technology isn't the most valuable thing we
have. The most valuable things are your lives, your strength!
     KEN: That's right! Even if this base blows up, as long as you're safe,
we can start again!
     JUN: Hurry, please! It's dangerous here!
     
The men get into the sub. A metal support falls across the sub, but doesn't
damage it.
     
     KEN: Whew... The impact wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I
think the submarine can still get out.
     TECH: Aren't you coming?
     KEN: We're leaving with Dr. Nambu. Please go first. Listen! It looks
like Galactor's missiles were fired from the southeast. So go the opposite
way, and surface.
     TECHS: Got it!
     KEN: Jun, open the sea door. Turn on the monitors.
     JUN: Roger!

There's a short, blowing out the generator. The sea door stops opening
before it gets open all the way.

     KEN: Dammit! The generator's been destroyed, and we don't have the
power to open the sea door any further!
     JUN: Can the submarine make it out?
     KEN: I don't know. (The submarine starts battering at the sea door.)
{Please, God, let them make it out...} (It warps the sea door enough to get
through.) Whew. That was close. (to bracelet) Dr. Nambu, the researchers
all got out safely. Dr. Nambu. Dr. Nambu--!

The GOD PHOENIX goes right over the Galactor base without noticing it.

     GAL 1: The GOD PHOENIX didn't notice us after all. 
     KATSE: What? The GOD PHOENIX went back to base?
     GAL 2: Yes, sir. Should we attack them with missiles?
     KATSE: No, wait. I want to see their faces when they see the ruins of
their base. Won't that be fun? I've put out a net to pick up their radio
transmissions, and they don't know a thing about it. (1)

The GOD PHOENIX reaches the ruins of Crescent Coral.

     RYU: Our base!
     JINPEI: It's destroyed....

They pilot through the smashed sea door into the base.

     RYU: It's going to be a tight sqeeze.
     JOE: Be careful. The base's lost its supports, so if you bang into it,
you'll knock it right over.

At the Galactor base.

     KATSE: The GOD PHOENIX has entered its base? All right, men! Now the
Science Ninja Team are like rats trapped in a hole! Start the attack again!
Obliterate the Crescent Coral Base! 

Mecha are released.

     KATSE: Fire!

At Crescent Coral, Ken and Jun are trying to get into the room where they
left Dr. Nambu.

     KEN and JUN: Dr. Nambu! Doctor! Dr. Nambu! Dr. Nambu! Doctor!
     JUN: Ken, it couldn't be that...
     KEN: Shit... it's an automatic door.
     JOE (on bracelet) Ken! Can you hear me, Ken!
     KEN: Joe! Where are you now?
     JOE: We're in the GOD PHOENIX bay. The sea door won't open.
     KEN: The generator's been destroyed. Nothing works, not the elevators
or the automatic doors or anything.
     RYU: That's awful. We shouldn't go in, then.
     JINPEI: Sonar reaction! Picking up missiles!
     JOE: What?
     KEN: Missiles? Jinpei! Distance?
     JINPEI: It's too late!
     JOE: Shit! They were hidden close by!
     RYU: Why couldn't we pick them up?
     JOE: They screened themselves from sonar.
     JINPEI: Distance 100 meters!
     JUN: Ken...
     KEN: This is the end. It's finally the end of us.
     RYU: All right... 

Ryu begins battering at the walls with the GOD PHOENIX. This causes the
base to fall on its side, and the missiles hit the side of the base and the
coral reef, mostly causing cosmetic damage. It looks real impressive,
though. At the Galactor base.

     KATSE: Did we do it?
     GAL 3: We did it! It's in ruins!
     KATSE: Get out of my way! (shoves the Galactors so he can see the
destruction for himself) It's truly in ruins!
     GALACTORS: Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! (start dancing around) We did it!
We did it! We did it!
     KATSE (overcome by emotion) We did it... we finally did it. I
destroyed the Science Ninja Team and their base together! How I've waited
for this day... (wipes his eyes, and turns to the Galactors) Be quiet, men!
This is no time to lose control! (they shut up) We've won, but we have work
left to do. The enemy has been defeated, but we haven't yet achieved our
goals. We-- we have sacrificed many comrades, many friends, for our goal.
Our time to drink the winner's toast and shout "Banzai" has not yet come.
That will be after we've conquered the world!

Back at Crescent Coral, which has turned on its side.

     KEN: What happened... it's so quiet.. Jun! Jun!
     
In the GOD PHOENIX (which is now upside down).

     JINPEI: Hey, we're alive...
     JOE: Looks that way. But maybe it's just that it'll take us a while
longer to die.
     JINPEI: Well, anyway, let's move the GOD PHOENIX.
     RYU: Uh-oh. It's upside down. Whadda we do?
     JOE: Ken! Ken! Are you guys all right?
     KEN: Joe? We're all right, but it's Dr. Nambu I'm worried about. He's
trapped in a room.
     JINPEI: Dr. Nambu?
     RYU: Has he been killed?
     KEN: Can you get to the observatory with the GOD PHOENIX?
     JOE: No. It's upside down, and so we can't go anywhere.
     KEN: What's our present location?
     RYU: Water pressure 80. That means we're 800 meters below.
     KEN: We have to hurry. Can you get the GOD PHOENIX righted somehow?
     RYU: No can do. If we took any shock, the imapct'd throw us out of our
seats.
     JOE: As you hear, there's nothing we can do!

Back upstairs.

     JUN: Ken.
     KEN: Yeah?
     JUN: What are you thinking about?
     KEN: My mom and dad.
     JUN: I see. What was your mother like, Ken?
     KEN: She was very gentle, but her health wasn't good. Especially after
Father was lost. She had to stay in bed all the time, and finally she died.
I was 11 years old. I remember how her body was so light, burnt to ash...
(2)
     JUN: It was nice that you remember her, at least, Ken.
     KEN: What about your parents, Jun?
     JUN: I don't remember them. I grew up in an institution. (Ken starts
to laugh) What's so funny?
     KEN: We've been fighting by each other's side for so long, and yet we
know nothing of each other's pasts.
     JUN: That's true. That's really true, isn't it.

The base falls off the lip of a ledge. In the GP.

     JOE: What's that? 

The falling base causes the GP to right itself.

     JOE: There is a God! Ryu, take us up and push up the base! 
     RYU: Right!
     JOE: Ken, the GOD PHOENIX has entered the base now! I'm coming to meet
you!
     KEN: Really? All right! Bring something to destroy the door while
you're at it!
     JOE: How about an explosive?
     KEN: I don't know where Dr. Nambu is inside the thing! We can't use
explosives, Joe!
     JOE: All right, I'll find something. Ryu, what's our present position?
     RYU: 1200 meters!
     JOE: All right, Ryu, you stay here and get ready to escape. Jinpei,
you come with me. (they go to top dome) Ryu, open the top!
     KEN: That sound...
     JUN: Ken, the water level's gotten so high!
     KEN: No! Before long, the base will be crushed by the water pressure!

Joe and Jinpei start swimming up to meet Ken and Jun. Jinpei collapses and
falls. Joe goes down to catch him, and Jinpei's cape gets caught under a
falling object. Joe tries and fails to pull him free. Just as he and Jinpei
are about to drown, Ken comes to the rescue. They all come up to the
surface, Jinpei unconscious.

     JUN: What's wrong with Jinpei?
     KEN: The water pressure made him start hallucinating, and he lost
consciousness. All right, Joe!
     JOE: Got it! (Joe starts cutting through the door)
     KEN: Ryu! Bring the GOD PHOENIX to the observatory! And bring
medicine!
     RYU: Ken! Depth is 1800! We don't have any more time!

They break into the room, and find Nambu unconscious.

     KEN: Doctor! (picks him up) He's all right! Hurry up, to the GOD
PHOENIX!

Nambu comes to consciousness aboard the GP.

     KEN: You're finally awake, Doctor.
     NAMBU: You went through such hardships to rescue me. I'm sorry...
(sees Jinpei unconscious) Is Jinpei hurt?
     JOE: Nah, he just got a slight case of the bends. He'll be fine if the
GOD PHOENIX rises slowly.
     NAMBU: What about Crescent Base?
     KEN: I'm sorry, but we had to abandon it.
     NAMBU: Ryu! Take us back there. We need to blow up the base.
     RYU: Huh? What'd you say, Doctor?
     JUN: Doctor?
     NAMBU: An Ultra-Bird Missile should take care of it.
     KEN: Doctor... that base contains our memories. Let it rest in peace.
     NAMBU: Ken. And everyone else, listen to me. The depth of the sea
floor here is 7000 meters. That's nothing for Galactor technology-- they
could easily bring the remains to their base. And then all the records and
important documents would fall into Galactor hands. The Science Ninja Team
can't afford to be influenced by emotion. Face the present and analyze it.
     KEN: I understand, Doctor. Joe! Don't you think he's right?
     JOE: You're the leader.
     KEN: Ryu! Take us back.
     RYU: There it is...
     KEN: All right, this should be a good distance. Everyone, watch the
end of our base!
     JINPEI (deliriously) We have to protect the Crescent Base! Destroy Galactor!
     JUN: Ken...
     JINPEI: Joe, I'm okay. Go help Dr. Nambu.
     JOE: Huh! Kid still thinks he's in the water.
     RYU: Depth 2,500 meters! It's beyond the GOD PHOENIX's limit!

Ken fires the missile, and the base is destroyed.

     NARR: And so in this way the Science Ninja Team's base, Crescent
Coral, was destroyed. The Science Ninja Team bear their tears, as they hear
Berg Katse's laughter in their minds. The people of the earth wait for
them, the five wings, like the name of the GOD PHOENIX.
     
     1. Presumably he means "see their faces" in a figurative sense.
     2. Frightening notion here-- if she was sickly, and she got worse
after her husband theoretically died, why the *hell* didn't Nambu tell her
the secret? Was she a security risk? Or perhaps she knew the true
situation, and it was just the separation from him at all that weakened
her. One wonders what exactly she died of. Sounds like some sort of
progessive wasting disease-- and since most of those have at least some
genetic component-- hmm. I wonder if Ken's illness in Gatchaman Fighter
might have been something that might have happened anyway, or that he had a
genetic predisposition to, but it was accelerated by the Hypersuit.Script: Gatchaman I #93       Counterattack! The Underground Torpedo
Operation

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

     BERG KATSE: (laughing) We finally did it! I have destroyed the so-
called "center of science", Crescent Coral Base, and Gatchaman!

At the Galactor base, a captain with a fishhead mask talks to Katse.

     FISHHEAD: Berg Katse-sama. My men said they could find nothing from
the ruins of the Crescent Base.
     KATSE: Is that so? Well, it can't be helped. The reason we can't find
anything is because the base was completely obliterated. 
     FISHHEAD: That's right. The Gatchaman and the GOD PHOENIX have finally
met their fate.
     KATSE: I've got to report this to the Overlord immediately. He'll be
so proud of me! Tra-la-la-la! 

Hopping and skipping for joy, Katse goes into the elevator, and goes to
meet with X.

     X: I don't believe it. I can't believe that the invincible Science
Ninja Team are finally dead.
     KATSE: Overlord, you think too much of the Science Ninja Team. After
all, they're just ordinary human beings. They can't be immortal!
     X: But I want proof. I want proof that they're dead.
     KATSE: You don't believe anything I say! I destroyed Crescent Coral
Base, I tell you! Why don't you praise me, instead of criticizing me?
     X: I know you destroyed it!
     KATSE: Well, if you know it, then why don't you give me just a little
bit of thanks? Why don't you just say, "Well done, Katse" and give me a
medal or something?
     X: Your information frequently has holes in it. That's all I'm worried
about!
     KATSE: All right. I'll be sure to get you proof that the Science Ninja
Team are dead. And then?
     X: Then I'll give you whatever you want.

Katse nods (not in a very humble fashion, either) and leaves.

     X: I can't afford to praise him, or he'll get cocky and relax too
much. So it's better to stay strict with him.
     NARR: At the same time, Dr. Nambu and the Science Ninja Team are
suffering from the loss of Crescent Coral Base.

At Nambu's mansion.

     NAMBU: {What can we do? There's no way to contact ISO and protect the
larger organization now. We lost the data to the Mantle Project and the
means to make more Ultra Bird Missiles when we lost Crescent Base.} (to
Joe) Joe, how many Ultra Bird Missiles do we have left? (Joe holds up one
finger) Only one?
     KEN: Doctor, what do we do now?
     JOE: You shouldn't have to ask that, Ken. We fight. That's all.
     JUN: But we have only one Ultra Bird Missile!
     JINPEI: Yeah! We can't destroy any of Galactor's mecha!
     RYU: We'll just lose again...
     JOE: As long as I've got hands and feet, I'm going to keep fighting
Galactor!
     KEN: I know where Joe's coming from. But we're not just here to fight
Galactor. We've got to destroy them. And we can't do that with just our
hands and feet.
     JOE: Ken, weapons aren't all we've got left. Don't we still have
intelligence and courage?

The phone rings. Nambu gets it.

     NAMBU: Yes. --What? A Galactor mecha?
     KEN: Give us the order to go out, Doctor!
     JOE: I'll destroy it with the last Ultra Bird Missile!
     KEN: Let's go, people!
     NAMBU: Wait! I didn't give you any order to go out. You stay here.
     KEN: What-- the-- Doctor!
     NAMBU: Galactor's target is not an important strategic location, just
a tourist town. It isn't necessary for you to go. Leave it to the United Nations.
     KEN: Doctor, have you gone crazy?
     JUN: It may not be an important strategic location, but there are
300,000 people there!
     JINPEI: Are you going to just stand there and let them die?
     RYU: The Doctor's turned into a coward since Crescent Coral got
trashed!
     KEN: Doctor, we still have one Ultra Bird Missile left. Please, give
us the order!
     NAMBU: I can't.
     JOE: Huh! I'm going anyway. No matter what anyone says, I'm going!
     JINPEI: I'm going too!

Metal walls close over the doors, locking them in.

     KEN: Doctor!
     NAMBU: Please endure, team. I can't let you go out now!
     NARR: Alpha City was destroyed by Galactor's attack. But with UN help,
the 300,000 citizens were hidden in underground shelters, just barely
escaping death.

At the Galactor base.

     KATSE: Gatchaman didn't show up, after all. There's the clear proof
that they're no longer on this plane of existence. Now even the Overlord
will have to believe that the only time we'll be seeing them again will be
as ghosts. (a whistling noise) That whistling!

Terrified, Katse breaks his wineglass in his hand, crawls behind the table
and pulls his gun, whimpering with terror. The door opens, and Fishhead
enters.

     FISHHEAD: Excuse me, Katse-sama.

Katse sighs with relief, and then shouts furiously at Fishhead as he stands
up.

     KATSE: You fool! Walking around whistling in the middle of an
operation!
     FISHHEAD: I'm sorry, sir. I was just so happy--
     KATSE: What did you want?
     FISHHEAD: Yessir. Our attack has destroyed the entire city!
     KATSE: Good! Launch the next operation!
     FISHHEAD: Yes, sir!
     KATSE: What's *wrong* with me, being afraid of the Science Ninja Team
still? They're *dead!*


Elsewhere in the base.

     GAL 1: Underground torpedo firing preparations complete!
     GAL 2: Ready to fire!
     GAL 3: Guidance mechanisms ready!
     GAL : Automatic correction device on!
     KATSE: X-1, fire!
     GAL 4: Yes, sir. Fire X-1!
     KATSE: X-2, X-3, fire!

At Nambu's mansion.

     NAMBU (on the phone): What? The UN base Beta was destroyed? And it
wasn't a missile or a mecha? I see. (hangs up) It's not attack by sky or
land. That means... That's it! I see!

Later, Nambu goes in to where he locked up the team.

     NAMBU: Team, it's time to go out! Look at this. (shows them a map) I
triangulated for the location from which Galactor has been firing missiles.
This is it-- this is Galactor's underground torpedo base.
     KEN: Isn't that an international airport, Doctor?
     JOE: That's how Galactor's hidden the base. Let's go attack
immediately!
     JINPEI: Revenge for Crescent Coral base!
     NAMBU: Wait. Let's not rush this. Our aim is not to destroy the enemy
base. I want you to inflitrate the base, take the data from the base
computer mainframes and use it to find Galactor's home base! Fortunately,
Galactor believes you to be dead. They attacked an unimportant tourist town
in order to find out if you were alive or not, and when you didn't appear,
that, to them, was proof. Now that they believe you to be dead, let's use
that belief against them. Launch the God Phoenix!
     EVERYONE: Roger!
     NARR: This international airport was once an army airport, in the last
World War. But it has been reconstructed, and now it is a new airport.

At the airport.

     JINPEI: Shit, those damned Galactors! They think we're dead, so they
use dirty tricks to prove it!
     RYU: You stupid Galactor, where are you hiding?
     JOE: Hey. What's that building?
     KEN: That's the old control tower. Smells fishy to me. Let's go check
it out, folks.

At the control tower.

     KEN: All right, let's do it!
     
They are attacked by bats. Jinpei falls out of the building, and through a
roof below.

     KEN: Jinpei!
     JUN: Jinpei!
     KEN: Jinpei, where are you!
     JINPEI: Down here, aniki!
     JUN: Ken! He's underneath, here! Oh, Jinpei, you made such a big hole!
     JINPEI: Onechan!
     KEN: Wait, I'm going to get you out of there! Bird Run!
     JUN: Jinpei, are you all right?
     JINPEI: Onechan...
     JOE: It must have been an underground hangar.
     KEN: But there's no entrance.
     RYU: Hey, this wall is hollow. Just a second-- (he pokes a hole in the
wall) Whoa! There's a ton of torpedos back here!
     EVERYONE: What?
     KEN: All right, Joe, you handle this.
     JOE: Okay.
     KEN: Were these used in the World War?
     JUN: They look too new, don't you think?
     JOE: Smells like Galactor to me.
     KEN: I see. There's a modification attached. They're Galactor's latest
underground torpedos.
     RYU: All right, let's blow'em all up!
     JOE: Wait! We don't have to worry about it. Everyone give me your
mini-homing devices.
     JINPEI: Aniki, what's Joe planning?
     KEN: Good question. We'll just have to wait and see.
     JOE: All right, I've set up the trick.
     JINPEI: Joe, what's the trick?
     JOE: I put an address tag on the torpedos, so they'd lose their way,
like you.
     KEN: Ryu, go to the control terminal and evacuate everyone.
     RYU: Me? I have to go back?
     KEN: Hurry. It might blow up.
     RYU: And here I was thinking I could blow this stuff to bits! Oh well,
can't be helped, I guess. I'll do it.
     KEN: We've got to get the data from Galactor like Dr. Nambu said.

Berg Katse is making an announcement to a large number of Galactors. The
four members of the team are above in the skylight.

     KATSE: Men of Galactor, our final plan for world conquest has begun,
after all our long, hard work. For our victory celebration, the Overlord
has given us the tape of His orders for the plan. On this tape, you will
hear all of His commands, such as which mecha we should use, which cities
we should destroy... (he keeps talking, but we can't hear it anymore,
because the team are talking)
     KEN: What's that?
     JUN: He said it's a tape of all the commands they have to follow.
     KATSE: ...I want you to gird up your loins and start the operation!
Before the cheering begins, I will let you hear the Overlord's own words!
     GAL 5: Katse-sama! Somebody's snuck in!
     KATSE: *What?*
     GAL 5: The wall to the torpedo room has been broken down! What should
we do?
     KATSE: Idiot! What do you *think* you should do about an enemy spy?
Find them and shoot them down!
     GAL 5: Yes, sir!
     KATSE: Huh, what stupid men I have! That's why the Overlord's always
yelling at me! Would somebody please take *my* feelings into consideration?
I destroyed Gatchaman, yet even still, with this now, the prospects for
Galactor's future are still dark-- Whaaa! (1)

The lights go out.

     GALS: What's that? The electricity's out!
     GAL 6: Hey! There's somebody up there!
     KATSE: Hurry up and turn on the lights! (emergency lighting comes on,
and reveals moving shadows) That's the enemy spy. Shoot them down!

They shoot out their own chandelier.

     GAL 7: Hey, there's nobody there!
     KATSE: They got away! Find them!
     GAL 8: Huh? But-- we didn't get to drink a drop of wine yet.
     KATSE: Fool! You can drink anytime! Everyone, go and find them! (all
the men depart) There's a vast quantity of men in my organization, but
there's absolutely no quality. I can't relax and celebrate for a moment!
(starts to pour himself a drink, and hears the Gatchaman whistle) Am-- am I
hallucinating? I could swear that's Gatchaman's whistle-- no, no, it can't
be. I saw them die with my own eyes! I can't be hearing that-- they would
have to be ghosts. (tries to pour the drink, but his hands are shaking, and
the bottle drops off the table) Who are you?! Where are you! *Stop!*
(throws the glass at the nearest table, and the sheets rise up. Katse
screams in terror. Then they throw the sheets off, revealing themselves to
be the Ninja Team.) You-- you can't-- it can't be!
     KEN: We are the white shadows who have returned from the dark depths
of the sea to destroy Galactor-- immortal Gatchaman!
     KATSE: What's wrong with me? Am I dreaming? I don't believe it!
     KEN: That's perfectly natural. Let's demonstrate to him that we're
still alive.
     JOE: All right...
     KATSE: So that's it, Gatchaman, you bastard. You tricked me, damn you!
     KEN: Bird Run!
     KATSE: Don't make a move, Gatchaman! First you made a fool out of me,
and now you're trying to take my *tape?* That's too much!
     
Ken attacks him, and accidentally throws him through his escape hatch.

     KEN: Wait! Shit!
     JUN: Ken! Let's hurry up and get out of here!
     GALACTORS: It's the Science Ninja Team! Aah!
     KEN: That was so close-- damn you, Katse!

In the mecha control room.

     KATSE: Damn you, Science Ninja Team! Why the *hell* do you get all the
luck? Captain, destroy this base!
     FISHHEAD: Yes, sir!
     KATSE: I'll blow it up along with the international airport!
     RYU: Ladies and gentlemen, please hurry! This airport is about to be
blown up!
     KEN: Ryu, launch the GOD PHOENIX.
     RYU: Got it!
     FISHHEAD: Fire torpedoes!
     KEN: Joe, this is the last Ultra Bird Missile. It's all up to you.
     JOE: I know. Ryu, get us in close to the mecha.
     RYU: Got it!
     FISHHEAD: Katse-sama, there's the GOD PHOENIX!
     KATSE: The GOD PHOENIX survived *too?* Damn it, shoot it *down!*
     KEN: Shoot, Joe!
     JOE: Not yet.
     GALS: Run! Run!
     KATSE: Don't run away! What do you think you're doing?
     GAL 9: But there's a missile through the center of the mecha! What
should we do?
     KATSE: You fool! There must be a timing device on it! If you take it
off now, it won't blow! Hurry up and *do* it! Hurry!
     KEN: It's taking way too long for that bomb to go off. Is it a dud?
     JOE: Yeah. Now shut up and watch what happens.
     GAL 10: Katse-sama, for some reason the torpedoes didn't reach the
airport. They're heading for us!
     KATSE: That's crazy! We can't allow that! Change course and run!
     GAL 7: It's too late!
     JINPEI: We did it! Stupid Galactors!
     KEN: I see. That's what you wanted the homing devices for.
     RYU: Huh, you scared me. You're a rotten guy, Joe.
     JOE: But that was our last Ultra Bird Missile. I wish we'd taken Katse
out with it.
     KEN: Oh well. That's okay, at least we got this tape as a small
present for Dr. Nambu.
At Nambu's mansion.
     NAMBU: Through all of your work, we'll finally now learn the location
of Galactor's headquarters. (the tape dissolves) Oh, damn!
     KEN: Damn Berg Katse!
     
     1. Am I the only one who thinks Katse's had a little too much of that
champagne already?Script: Gatchaman I #94    Angler, the Electric Monster

translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

At a train station, Ken, Jun and Jinpei are seeing Ryu off. 

     KEN: Well, Ryu. Give my regards to your father. 
     RYU: Sorry about this. Soon as I see him, I'll come back as soon as
possible. 
     KEN: Don't worry about it. Galactor's been quiet lately, so you can
take your time.
     RYU: But every time I go to see my family, things get so busy, what
with people disappearing, Galactor attacking-- 
     JUN: Don't say that. At least you have parents and relatives to be
happy with. We're all envious of you. 
     JINPEI (grinning) He's embarrassed. The truth is, he's really happy to
go see his folks. (punches Ryu lightly) Right? Right? Isn't that right? 
     KEN: Anyway, you've been really worried about your father being sick. 
     ANNOUNCER: Transfer at Portoman to Amegapolis now leaving. Please
board the train. 
     RYU: Well, thanks for seeing me off. 
     JINPEI (mutters) Joe never showed. 
     
Joe, driving. 

     JOE: Jesus Christ! The racing judges took so damn long. I won that
thing hands down. (A little boy runs out to get a ball, right in front of
Joe. Joe slams on the brakes and uses all his driving skill, but he still
hits the boy. He gets out.) Boy! Are you all right? 
     
A woman runs out to him. 

     MOM: My baby! 
     JOE: You're his mother, right? I've got to get him to the hospital,
immediately. Please come with me. (A big clock strikes five.) (to himself)
{Sorry, Ryu. I won't be able to see you off.}
     
View of the garbage power plant. 

     NARRATOR: Off the coast of Utoland is Dream Island, the Island of
Garbage, where every day, several tons of garbage are collected and
brought. This power plant is based on the Mantle Project. The trash burned
here produces 700,000 kilowatts of electricity. The afterproducts are
packed and buried, so this power plant is pollution-free. (1)
     
At the power plant.

     NAMBU: This is just the sort of thing I expect to see from an
engineering administrator, Dr. Komibe. Your process is very efficient.
     KOMIBE: It's an honor to be praised by ISO's Dr. Nambu. So, what
brings you here to the Island of Trash?
     NAMBU: I'd like you to use your high-performance incinerator to test
something for me.
     KOMIBE: The incinerator?
     NAMBU: The fact is, the Jupiter Rocket #1 has recently been completed,
and I want you to run a fire resistance test on the space capsule. (2)
     KOMIBE: I understand. We'll do it right away.
     NAMBU: Please do.
     KOMIBE: We should just send the data to ISO as soon as we've got it,
right?
     NAMBU: That'll be fine. Thanks. 

Nambu starts to leave.

     KOMIBE: Oh, Dr. Nambu!
     NAMBU: Mm?
     KOMIBE: You've come here alone today? Aren't the Science Ninja Team
guarding you?
     NAMBU: They're not my bodyguards. Why do you ask?
     KOMIBE: Oh, it's just that I've never met the world-famous Science
Ninja Team before.
     NAMBU: Well, they're still just teenagers. Galactor's been quiet
lately, so they're  probably off enjoying themselves somewhere.
      
Ken, Jun and Jinpei are at a fountain in a park, at night. Colored lights
play under the fountain. 

     JUN: Oh, it's so pretty, Ken! 
     JINPEI (conspiratorily, in a whisper) Hey, aniki. 
     KEN: What? 
     JINPEI: I'm gonna go home. 
     KEN: Why? Is there something wrong? 
     JINPEI: No, it's just... well.. I don't want to bother you... 
     KEN: Why not? 
     JINPEI: Because... aniki, you're being thick! 
     KEN (loud enough that Jun can hear) I'm going to take you guys to a
really expensive restaurant and treat you to dinner for once. 
     JINPEI: Huh? Really? Can I go, can I go? 
     KEN: Sure, I'll take you anywhere you want. (Jun looks disgusted) 
     JINPEI: Really? I know a great restaurant! 
     KEN: Okay, I'll take you there. Hey, Jun! Are you coming or not? 
     JINPEI: We're going to leave you! 
     JUN: Of course I'm going! 
     JINPEI (giggles) I know you like to eat, onechan. (She bops him on the
head.) What was that for? 
     JUN: You know, you're really thick. 
     JINPEI (to himself) Yeah, I know I was being thick, but Ken taking us
to dinner is so rare, I wanted to make sure I got to come. (to others) Hey,
wait for me! 

At hospital. 

     MOM: Doctor! 
     JOE: How is he? 
     DOCTOR: The skull was fractured and shards were driven into the brain.
His breathing is impaired, so we're going to operate immediately. 
     MOM: Oh, my baby! 
     JOE: Is the operation difficult? 
     DOCTOR: No, there's nothing to worry about. It's just... from what the
police have said, in a case like this, where the boy ran out against the
traffic light, he ought to be dead. It's amazing you managed to save his
life. 
     JOE: Is there anything I can do? If you need blood, take mine. 
     DOCTOR: All right. I'll have your blood type checked, just in case. 
     
Aboard the Galactor mecha, Angler. 

     KATSE: What's wrong? Are we low on power? 
     GAL 1: Yes, sir. There was an accident in the engineering room. We're
repairing it now. 
     KATSE: And so you should be. Hurry it up! This *would* happen during
the new mecha's test run.
     GAL 1: Engineering room! Engineering room! Are you still working on
the problem? 
     GAL 2: This is the engineering room. The generator turbine is broken!
We can't repair it without recharging the battery! 
     KATSE: So if you *know* that, why don't you find us the nearest power
plant! 
     GAL 1: Um... Angler is now here, so... Ah! Here we go. There's a trash
power plant on Dream Island, right near here. 
     KATSE: You idiot! Isn't that the famous Island of Trash? Galactor has
a shining reputation to preserve! We can't go to such a filthy place! 
     GAL 1: But, Katse-sama-- all the other places are so far away! 
     KATSE: Damn, this is irritating! Well, it can't be helped.  Take
Angler to Trash Island! (the mecha swims through the water to the Dreamland
vicinity. Katse pinches his nose shut.) Oh, so this is Trash Island. It
looks like it smells. (3)

At the power plant. Komibe, director of the power plant, and some
technicians are preparing to test a rocket capsule in a firing chamber. 

     KOMIBE: So this is the Jupiter Rocket #1 capsule? 
     TECH: Doctor, we're starting the experiment. 
     KOMIBE: All right, go ahead. Lower this into the incinerator.

Angler arrives outside, and fires a rocket into the building. The top of
the rocket opens up, and Katse, flanked by Galactors, is standing there. 

     KOMIBE: You-- who are you--!! 
     KATSE (laughs) People of Trash Island, the great Berg Katse of
Galactor has personally deigned to honor you with a visit! 

Aboard train. 

     STEWARDESS: Attention please. Mr. Ryu Nakanishi. Mr. Ryu Nakanishi,
you have a phone call in the third car. Mr. Ryu Nakanishi, please come take
your call. 
     RYU: Huh? A phone call? (he goes to the third car.) I'm Ryu Nakanishi.
(picks up the phone.) Hello, this is Ryu. Seiji, is that you? How's Dad? --
What? He's critical? I'm on the train right now, I can't go any faster!
Anyway, the train will get there tomorrow morning. You take care of him
until then, Seiji. (he hangs up) Dad, hang on until I can get there! 

At hospital, the surgery. 

     DOCTOR: Scalpel and cotton. 
     
In waiting room at hospital. 
     JOE: Looks like the operation's started. 
     MOM: Yes. 
     JOE: Don't worry. The doctor said the operation was easy. 
     MOM: I'm sorry. We've caused you so much trouble, giving blood and
all... 
     JOE: Don't worry about it, I'm happy to help. It was lucky I have the
same blood type as your son. 

At the power plant, Komibe's office. Katse is leaning back in Komibe's
chair. A Galactor enters. 

     GAL: We've finished recharging Angler, sir. 
     KATSE: All right. Switch the circuit breakers! 
     KOMIBE: (furiously) What do you think you're doing? That'll cut off
the electrical supply to the entire city! Just take your men and get out of
here! 

Katse pushes Komibe against the wall and taps his fingers against Komibe's
cheek. 

     KATSE: Komibe, who do you think you're giving orders to? Remember, I'm
Berg Katse! 

At a restaurant. 

     KEN: An airport restaurant? Jinpei, you know some fantastic places! 
     JINPEI: That's not all! The place rotates, so you can get a good view
of the city while you eat. (4)
     JUN: Jinpei, how do you know about this place? Have you been loafing
off on the job to come here? 
     JINPEI: No! I heard about this place from our customers! 
     JUN: Sure? 
     JINPEI: Are you saying I'm lying to you? It's true, onechan! Why is it
girls always have such bad tempers? 

At this point, there is a blackout. 

     KEN: The power's gone out! 
     CUSTOMER: What's going on? 
     JINPEI: Hey, don't worry about it. Eating in the dark's not such an
awful thing. 
     
Aboard the train. 

     RYU: (running in place) This train is so slow! Who are they kidding,
saying it's an "express!" (The blackout hits. The train stops, and Ryu
falls over.) What's going on? 

At restaurant. 

     JUN: Ken! The whole city's blacked out! 
     
A plane crashes on the runway below the restaurant. 

     JINPEI: Hey, a plane crash! 
     KEN: Jun, what's the power plant for this city? 
     JUN: The Dream Island power plant! 
     KEN (staring out the window at the burning plane) What's happened at
Dream Island? Is it Galactor? 
     
Outside the power plant, the three in Bird Styles. 
     JINPEI: Aniki, a blackout could just be an accident. We don't have to
check it out.
     KEN: It's been too long for an accident. It's been about an hour. 
     JUN: This power plant supplies a lot of the country. A lot of people
will be endangered by this outage. 
     
At power plant. 

     GAL (looks out window) Ah! (turns) Katse-sama, the Science Ninja Team
are coming! 
     KATSE: *What?*
     KOMIBE (relieved) Oh, the Ninja Team! 
     KATSE: Every single time we try to do anything, they have to pop up!
(turns to Komibe) Don't get your hopes up, Komibe. This is a chance for us
to destroy them at last. 

On train, Ryu complains to conductor. 

     RYU: What's going on? Why isn't the train moving? 
     CONDUCTOR: The electricity has cut off. Please be patient for a while.

     RYU: My father is sick! I have to get back to my house by tomorrow
morning! Please hurry! 
     CONDUCTOR: It won't do you any good to complain to *me.* 
     
At hospital. 

     DOCTOR: The respirator's stopped! We have to stop the operation! 

In waiting room, the doctor goes to meet Joe and the mother. The emergency
lights are on. 

     JOE: What's wrong? Still no power? 
     MOM: How is the operation on my son? 
     DOCTOR: This hospital's backup generator can't power the lung
respirator, so we can't continue. 
     
Woman gasps. At the power plant, Ken meets with "Komibe." 

     KEN: You mean you don't know why the power stopped? 
     NOT KOMIBE: That's right. If you don't want to take my word for it, I
can show you. Why don't you follow me? 
     KEN: Okay. 
     
In the office behind the door, the real Komibe lunges for the door. 
     
     KOMIBE: Gatchaman! 

Galactors pin him and put a gun to his head. 

     GAL: Shut up. Galactor wants to see blood. Just give us an excuse. 

In the room with the firing chamber. 

     KEN: Is this the place? 
     NOT KOMIBE: This room is the laboratory-- and also the execution
chamber! (dives for a lever)
     KEN: What the hell are you doing? (the floor drops out from under him,
Jun and Jinpei. Laughter echoes from above, and Komibe's outfit falls
loose) 
     KATSE: (looking down at them) Hahahaha! You're trapped now, Gatchaman!

     KEN: Berg Katse. 
     KATSE: Let me send you to hell with one piece of advice: when you
enter enemy territory, you really should be more careful about
investigating your surroundings, the way I do. You understand, don't you,
Gatchaman? 

Jun flings her yo-yo up at him. He dodges, and the floor they are standing
on drops again, leaving them in the firing chamber with the rocket capsule.


     KATSE: Fool. That's the bottom. You've got no way to escape from this
fiery hell. Farewell, Gatchaman! (the floors above them close) 

     KEN: We're trapped. Berg Katse was right-- we fell into this too
easily. 
     JINPEI: I smell something burning! 

Fire shoots out of jets. 
     
     KEN: Fire! 
     JUN: Over here, too! 
     KEN: Dammit! (they are pinned. Then Ken gets an idea.) What's that? 

Above, in the office. Katse is leaning back in Komibe's chair. 
     KATSE (laughs) They're going to be barbecued birdies now! 
     REALLY DISGUSTING GALACTOR: Let's eat our baked chicken with sauce! 
     KATSE: We only dropped in to recharge Angler, but we got us some
entertainment in the bargain. 
     KOMIBE: If you're finished with your recharge, get out of here! 
     KATSE (stands) No, we can't do that, Komibe. There are five members of
the Science Ninja Team. I plan to stay here until we've killed the other
two. 
     GAL: But, Katse-sama! How do we know the other two will show up? 
     KATSE: Oh, they'll come! Their teamwork is, to my regret, much
stronger than ours in Galactor. There's no doubt that they'll come. And I
regret to say that their number is a little bit skimpier than ours...
(turns to face Komibe) If they don't come, we'll just let this power plant
go BOOM! And there'll be nothing left of Garbage Island but Garbage. (takes
out a medallion and swings it in front of Komibe's face) You may ask
yourself, "What is this?" Inside this medallion is Californium, a substance
far more powerful than uranium. ISO has been using this recently, as I'm
sure you know. Ten of these little things are equal to the power of an
atomic bomb. Don't you think one would be enough for this Island of Trash,
Komibe? 
     KOMIBE: You damned lunatic! (5)

Katse slaps him. 

     KATSE: Watch your language, Komibe! I have a forgiving spirit, but I
can't abide filthy language! (turns away from Komibe) (6)
     KOMIBE (shouts at him) You're not human! If you destroy this power
plant, everyone in this city will suffer! Have you ever thought about that?
(7)
     KATSE: It's time the Gatchamen's barbecue was finished. Pick up their
ashes. 
     GAL: Yes sir. 

In the firing chamber. 

     GAL 3: But I just can't believe that our enemy Gatchaman could be
reduced to ash so easily. 
     GAL 4: No one knows man's destiny. 
     GAL 3: Huh! There's nothing left! (looks around) What's over there?
(walks closer) Do they need that for the power plant? 
     GAL 4: It looks like the space capsule to a rocket! 
     GAL 3: A capsule? That means-- 

The door of the capsule opens, and Ken steps out. 

     KEN: That's right. We're perfectly fine! 

They defeat the Galactors. Upstairs, in Komibe's office, a Galactor enters.


     GAL: Katse-sama! We've set up the pendant bomb! 
     KATSE (in Komibe's chair again): Good work. (pulls out a device with a
button on it and taps it lightly) All I have to do is get in Angler and
push this button. 
     KOMIBE: You--!! (lunges at Katse. His own men hold him back. We see
the elevator is coming up.) 
     TECHS: Director! 
     KATSE: Now the great Gatchaman is nothing but ash. We'll give him a
magnificent funeral. The death of such a great hero is a tragic thing. Ah,
yes, he was a noble man. 

The elevator door opens. 

     KEN: Thank you ever so much, Berg Katse. 
     KATSE (sits up straight) Ah! Gatchaman-- 
     KEN: What's the problem? Aren't we ghosts? (8)
     KATSE: How-- how did you survive that fire? 

Before Katse can get up, Ken pins his face to the wall with his foot. 

     KEN: Before you lose your mind, I have one piece of advice for you:
before you go into enemy territory, you should always investigate more
carefully. 
     KATSE: (strangled) What? 
     KEN: There was a rocket capsule in the firing chamber. 
     KOMIBE: Oh, that's right! Dr. Nambu asked me to examine its fire
resistance! 
     KATSE: (chokes out) What, Komibe? You didn't tell me anything about--
(anything else he might say is cut off by Ken smushing his face against the
wall, hard) 
     KEN: You didn't ask right. When people are afraid, it's easy for them
to forget important things. 

Katse still has the detonator in his hand. Ken has eased up-- he can talk
again. 

     KATSE: Gatchaman, shouldn't you be more worried? Do you want to know
what's going to happen? *Do you know what this is?* If I push this button,
this building will explode! 
     KOMIBE: It's true! He set up a bomb with Californium, a substance more
powerful than urnaium! 
     KEN: Huh! Do it. If you don't want to, I can do it for you. If you're
going to kill yourself, we'd be happy to die with you. So go on! Do it!
What's keeping you, Berg Katse!

The elevator doors open again, and two Galactors are there. 

     GAL: Shit! Damn Gatchaman! 
     KEN: (leaps free of the desk) Bird Run! (he knocks one of the men
back, and the elevator shuts. Katse takes this opportunity to go through
the window.) 
     GAL: Katse-sama, are you going to escape by yourself again? (Ken slugs
him into the wall) 
     KEN: Jun, you help Dr. Komibe. Jinpei, ask the Galactors where the
bomb is. Got it?

Outside, by Angler. 

     KATSE: Number One Army! Number Two Army! Go! 

Ken gets into a fight with the two armies, and beats them. Katse takes off
in Angler, and the city lights up, as dawn approaches. 

     JINPEI: Aniki! The power's back! 
     JUN: Oh, it's beautiful! 

Jinpei reaches Ken with the pendant bomb. 

     JINPEI: Aniki, this is the problem. We've got to do something about
this before Katse pushes the button. 
     KEN: Don't worry. Berg Katse will sacrifice his men to gain time for
him to get out of the blast zone. Let's return what he forgot. 
     
He puts the pendant on the boomerang and hurls it. It lodges in back of
Angler. 
     
     KATSE: I think this should be good enough, no? Farewell for good this
time, Gatchaman! (he presses the button. The back of his mecha explodes,
and the water demolishes door after door. Katse does not seem to realize
this.) What the *hell?* The generator broke again? Shit! The test run is
cancelled! (At this point the water breaks down the door to the front
compartment, that Katse's in, and rushes in.) (9)

Aboard train. 

     RYU (on phone) Seiji? How's dad? He's all right now? Is that true?
Really?! I'm on my way! (Hangs up, half-crying for joy) Dad's all right! 

At hospital. 

     JOE: I'm going now. I'm glad to see that your son's all right. 
     MOM: Thank you. Thank you for all you've done for us. 
     JOE: I'm sorry. I'll come and see your boy until he recovers. 

Outside power plant. 

     JUN: Even though the power stopped for a few hours, there's still a
lot happening in the city. 
     KEN (moodily) Yeah. 
     JUN: Is something wrong? 
     KEN: Yeah. If Dr. Nambu hadn't had that capsule put there, we'd never
have seen the sun again. 

     1. Apparently the Mantle Project is intended to find all forms of
clean energy, not just geothermal. Whoever named the place "Dream Island"
has a *weird* sense of humor-- however, I must mention that I read
somewhere that the Japanese either had built or were going to build an
artificial island called "Dream Island", sometime in the late 60's or early
70's. That may be what this refers to.
     2. This presumably is the same rocket that becomes LEONA 3 in #97.
Continuity, I love it.
     3. It doesn't smell at all-- he's in an airtight, watertight
submarine!
     4. However, we don't actually see it rotating the whole time the three
are in it.
     5. On my copy off laser disk, it sounded suspiciously as if they
bleeped this line! I know it was in there, because it was in my original
copy, but since I have off-LD copies from two unrelated soruces, and it was
dropped out in both of them (you can hear Komibe say the "me" part of
"kichigai-me!"), I have to presume it was bleeped.
     6. A forgiving spirit? Since when?
     7. Of course he's thought about it-- he's a terrorist! Komibe seems to
have a real hard time understanding that these people *like* to cause
trouble.
     8. This refers back to the events of #93.
     9. How the *hell* did he survive that? I'm clueless!Script: Gatchaman I #99            Wounded G-2

Translated by Mari Fujimoto and Alara Rogers

Aboard DEVIL STAR.

     KATSE: Are we at secret base Beta yet?
     GAL: We'll be there any minute, I think, but would you like me to
check for you, Katse-sama?
     KATSE: Go tell them to speed it up!
     GAL: Y-yes, sir!
     KATSE: There's no one I can rely on in this entire organization. The
way things are now, it's going to take us *forever* to conquer the world.
I've got to smack them and wake them up!
     NARR: Secret base Beta is one of Galactor's front line military bases.
Katse, who has not yet achieved his ambition of world conquest, is
personally rushing to Beta in order to accomplish it.

Aboard GOD PHOENIX.

     JUN: Altitude 12,000. Distance from GOD PHOENIX 350 kilometers. Ah!
Ken, the blinking's stopped.
     KEN: Right. Don't lose it.
     JOE: No mistaking it. That's their secret base.
     JUN: Probably.
     KEN: You haven't yet figured out we're following you, Berg Katse.
Watch this!

At the Galactor base, Katse addresses his men.

     KATSE: It has been 1 year and 10 months since we began moving toward
our aim of world conquest. (1) But we have not yet overcome a mere group of
five children. It seems we can't handle the Science Ninja Team. And why is
that? It's because you all are slacking off in spirit--

X interrupts him.

     X: The one who's slacking off is you, Berg Katse! (Katse starts) The
Science Ninja Team have followed you here and are approaching the base!
     KATSE: *Really?*
     X: Defend the base, whatever it takes! And while you're at it, destroy
the Science Ninja Team!
     KATSE: Yes, sir! I'm terribly sorry! (to himself) Dammit... (to men)
What are you standing around like fools for? Get to battle stations!

The God Phoenix approaches.

     RYU: Look! An old fortress! 
     KEN: Careful, Ryu! They must know we're here!
     RYU: I know, I know!
     
The GP is attacked. Joe goes flying, hits a wall, and staggers forward.

     JOE: Ryu, get closer! I'm gonna blow the shit out of them!

His vision goes double.

     KEN: What's wrong, Joe?
     JOE: Nothing!
     RYU: Hurry up! We're in danger!
     JOE: Calm down! It'll be more effective if we get closer! (he still
can't see) Shit...
     JUN: Joe, what are you *doing?*
     JOE: Shut up!

He fires. Most of the base is left intact. Some of it falls on some
Galactors.

     GALS: Run! Let's get out of here!

On the ground.

     RYU (sarcastically) Gee, I never *imagined* how *effective* a short-
range attack could be.
     JINPEI: Joe, why'd you miss? Couldn't be you felt sorry for the
Galactors...
     JUN: It couldn't be, could it, Joe? (2)
     KEN: But it's funny for them to be this quiet when they've only taken
this much damage.
     RYU: Well, they must all be blown up or unconscious.
     KEN: Let's go inside. We might be able to get some information from
them.

Inside, a staircase.

     JUN: It's leading downstairs.
     KEN: Let's go down.
     JINPEI: Wow! A dungeon! If you got locked up in a place like this, bet
it'd drive you crazy in a day!
     KEN: Wait!

Ken throws an explosive behind a pillar. A Galactor comes out, dazed, and
fires at random. Galactors come out from everywhere.

     GALS: Fire!

The team go into action. Joe takes down several Galactors, but falls, and
one gets the drop on him.

     GAL: Get ready to die!

Jun's yo-yo saves Joe. She then loops it around a set of bars. Ryu comes
forward.

     RYU: Let me, Jun!

Ryu tugs on the yo-yo and brings it down on top of several Galactors.
Jinpei is driving one Galactor nuts by flipping around him.

     GAL: *Where is he?*

They take out the last Galactors. Then X's laughter resounds.

     JINPEI: That's Overlord X's voice!
     X: Listen carefully. This room will be your grave. Die!

Doors close, shutting the room off.

     JINPEI: What're we gonna do, we're trapped!
     RYU: Don't worry about it. Watch this! I'm gonna... uh... 

Ryu attempts to knock down a door, and fails.

     KEN: Ryu, don't waste your strength. There's nowhere to aim at but
there.

He points at a grating on the ceiling. Then sand starts pouring into the
chamber.

     JUN: Sand!
     JINPEI: They're trying to bury us in sand! In back of us, too!
     KEN: We'll destroy the ceiling with the Whirlwind Fighter!
     ALL: Roger!
     
They assemble.

     JINPEI: Science Ninja Whirlwind Fighter!

Joe gets dizzy and falls out of the pyramid, causing the whole thing to
collapse.

     JUN: What's wrong, Joe?
     JOE: Sorry. I couldn't make it.
     RYU: What's *wrong* with you, Joe? You've been acting funny since the
attack!
     JOE: Well, sometimes people just screw up. Let's try it again.
     KEN: Are you all right?
     JOE: Yeah.
     KEN: All right, let's go!
     JINPEI: Science Ninja Whirlwind Fighter!

They break through the ceiling. Then Joe falls out again. They land on the
floor above the cell.

     RYU: Joe! You all right?
     JOE: Sorry.
     KEN: Joe, go back to the GOD PHOENIX.
     JOE: Cut the crap! I'm fine! (sways) That was nothing...
     KEN: You must be overtired. Go to the GOD PHOENIX and wait for us
there. This is an order.
     JOE: I hear you.

In Katse's chambers.

     X: What? They succeeded in escaping the room without any weapons?
     KATSE: Overlord, if a room like that could have held them, we
Galactors would have won long ago--
     X: Shut up! Are you criticizing me? (3)
     KATSE: I'm terribly sorry.
     X: This is a perfect chance to destroy them. If you've got time to
stand around complaining, use it to destroy them!
     KATSE: Yes sir!

Katse contacts Galactors.

     KATSE: Fools! What are you doing? The Science Ninja Team has escaped!
Don't let them take a single step away!
     GALS: Yes, sir!
     GAL 2: Katse-sama's been so impatient lately.
     GAL 3: Can't blame 'im.
     GAL 2: He's been trying for so long, but world conquest is still just
a dream.
     GAL 3: There seems to be no hope. (Ken enters the room) Gatchaman!
     KEN: Bird Run! (sees a safe) Hey, what's in there?
     GAL 2: Ah-- um-- in there-- uh--
     RYU (slugging the hapless Galactor) Speak up clearly like a man
should!
     
Ken takes a key from the man's belt.

     GAL 2: Don't touch that! Gimme it back! Please! (4)
     RYU: Men don't babble like that. (hits the Galactor) 

They go inside the safe.

     RYU: What's this? 

Ryu finds some crates.

     RYU: Ken, there's something inside these.
     KEN: Go ahead and open one.
     RYU: Wha-- these are--
     JINPEI: Bombs? Aniki, this is the munitions depot!
     KEN: If that's true, then all this...
     RYU: Ken. Let's set it on fire! This base will just go BOOM!
     KEN: Wait. Since Overlord X is here, we should find out his secret
first. (sees loader) Let's carry out all the explosives with that.
     GAL 4: You find them?
     GAL 5: Where could they have gotten to?
     GAL 6: You find them?
     GAL 7: No! Shit, where *are* they?
     
Aboard GOD PHOENIX.

     JOE: {I should be fighting Galactor. Instead, I have to sit here and
watch, with nothing to do but chew my fingernails. What's going to happen
to my position in the Science Ninja Team?} (he punches an instrument panel)
Shit! Shit! Shit! {What's wrong with me? What's *wrong* with me?}

Back at the base. The team are carrying a lot of bomb crates with the
loader.

     GAL 8: What's that sound?
     GAL 9: Let's check it out!
     GAL 8: Over here!
     GAL 10: Fire!
     GAL 9: Wait, wait! What is it?
     GAL 10: It's bombs!
     GAL 8: Run!
     RYU: No, you don't!

Jun and Ryu are manning the loader. Ryu hits the Galactors with the
payload.

     JUN: Ryu, the enemy's coming from this side too.
     RYU: Okay.

Ken and Jinpei toss bombs at the Galactors.

     GAL 11: There's the Ninja Team! Hurry, men!

Some Galactors climb onto the payload.

     GAL 12: Let's take this back!
     JUN: Ryu!
     RYU: Shit! You conceited bastards!
     GAL 12: Let's do it!

Ryu drops the payload.

     RYU: Run!

The bombs get set off, with numerous explosions. A Galactor contacts Katse.

     GAL 14: Katse-sama! It's too late! We can't handle this! Run for it,
please! (5)
     KATSE: Shit! I'm not going anywhere! I'm going to kill that accursed
Gatchaman myself-- (a panel blows next to him) Right, I'll leave it to you!
     X: Wait, Berg Katse!
     KATSE: Yes, sir?
     X: Gatchaman believes I'm in this base somewhere, so let's use that to
lure them to *that* room and send them down into the magma!
     KATSE: Yes, sir!

Jinpei observes a big "X" flashing on a door.

     JINPEI: Aniki, what's that?
     KEN: What's wrong? (sees the X) Hmm. Maybe Overlord X's secret is to
be found in that room. Let's check it out. (they all go inside) Nobody's
here.
     JUN: It's too quiet. What kind of room--
     KATSE: The kind that will be your grave!
     JUN: Ken!
     KEN: It's Katse! It's a trap! Get out!
     RYU: Shit!

The doors slam shut before they can escape. Then the room starts to spin,
plastering them against the wall.

     JINPEI: Katse, you fool, you don't fight fair! Show us your face when
you attack! (6)
     KATSE: Finally, you're trapped. This room will spin around and head
down straight to hell. Not even you four can move, due to the centrifugal
force the spin generates. Down, down, under your feet, is the boiling abyss
of magma, waiting for you. Farewell! Please give my best wishes to the
Devil in Hell!
     JINPEI: My ears hurt!
     KATSE (to his men) There's one more member of the Science Ninja Team
in the GOD PHOENIX, in front of the base. Go eliminate him, quickly!
     GAL: Yes, sir!

In the spinning drill.

     KEN: Shit, I can't move! (to bracelet) Joe! This is me! Can you hear
me? Joe, can you hear me?
     JOE: What's wrong?
     KEN: We fell into a Galactor trap. We're headed for the magma layers
underground!
     JOE: What?
     KEN: There's only one way for us to escape.. (Joe groans) Joe! What's
wrong?
     JOE: Nothing! Go on!
     KEN: Listen! Set the timer on the Ultra Bird Missile for 30 seconds!
Then fire it under the spinning dome! Hurry up!
     JOE: What?
     KEN: What's wrong? Didn't you hear me?
     JOE: If I fail-- if I fail, you'll never come back!
     KEN: Joe, hurry up! We haven't got time!
     JOE: I-- I don't think I can do it! I can't do it!
     KEN: What did you say? You were always so cocky-- what're you saying
now? (he remembers Joe falling out of the Whirlwind Fighter) Do it, Joe! We
give our lives into your hands! Do it! Do it! There's no other way!
     JOE: I understand!

Joe has to set the timer. Outside, crab tanks approach the GP.

     GALS: Over there! Hurry! This is a perfect chance to destroy the GOD
PHOENIX!
     KEN: Joe, not *yet?*
     JOE: I *know!* What's that? (sees the tanks) Shit! (he has to deal
with the tanks, which he does by lifting off) This is not going well...
Ken, standby OK! What's the target?
     KEN: I'll send a Bird Scramble! Aim underneath!
     NARR: The distance from the surface to the center of the Earth is
6,400 kilometers. As one descends, the temperature rises 3 degrees for
every hundred meters. Below 50 km, the temperature is high enough to melt
even rocks and iron.
     KATSE: Suffer! Suffer! Suffer slowly, and die!
     JOE: Now! (can't see) Shit, at a time like this--! I'm worthless!
Shit!
     KEN: Everyone, hang on. Joe's going to save us soon. We need to keep
our minds clear for that moment. Don't let the pain weaken you! Understand?
If you understand, answer me! (he collapses)
     JOE: Please. Just one second! Even half a second! Let me be normal,
please! (his vision clears) Now!
     KATSE: Soon the dome will plunge into the magma! (sees the Bird
Missile on radar) What's that?
     
The Bird Missile lands under the dome and stops its descent.
     
     KEN: It's stopped! Get out of here! Everyone, get up! Hurry, or we'll
be blown to pieces!

At the base.

     GAL: Katse-sama, it's an emergency! An Ultra Bird Missile was fired at
the magma layer! It's right under our feet!
     KATSE: It's going to blow! Run!
     GAL: I'm running, I'm running!

In the dome.

     KEN: Blow up the ceiling!
     ALL: Roger!

They do so.

     KEN: Get out of here! Ninja--
     JUN: Two-step Leap--
     KEN: Fighter, go!

They get out of the hole by tossing each other up. The base blows up.

     GALS: Save us! (and other assorted screams)
     RYU: That was close...
     JINPEI: That's Joe! (aboard GP) Joe!

Aboard DEVIL STAR.

     KATSE: Overlord-- I'm terribly sorry, but, uh-- once more-- uh...
please... please, forgive me? Ah-- Overlord? Overlord, please say
something? Overlord, just one word!
     X: Moron!
     
Katse sags with a sigh. Aboard GP. Ken sees the broken instrument panel and
Joe's bloody hand.

     RYU: Well, but your piloting technique is excellent, Joe! I never
thought you could handle the GOD PHOENIX with so much skill! How about
switching jobs?
     JOE: Sure, let me think about it.
     KEN: {There's something wrong. There's something wrong with Joe...}
     NARR: Through Joe's efforts, Ken and the others were saved. But he is
suffering inside. He fears that his illness may eventually endanger all of
the team. But the day of Galactor is at hand! Hang on till then, Joe!

     1. This is what we call a topical reference. At this point, the series
has been going on for one year and ten months. Of course, at that rate,
there would literally be an adventure a week, which I find unrealistic-- I
prefer to ignore references to actual time passage, and assume that the
time frame is closer to two years and ten months, or something.
     2. Perhaps this speculation refers to the previous episode, where Dr.
Nambu had a theory that Joe's hatred for Galactor had translated into self-
hatred since he learned the truth about his past.
     3. X can dish it out, but he can't take it, can he? Maybe now he'll
understand Katse's position better.
     4. The Galactor is talking like a woman here. This Galactor has a more
irritating voice than Gel Sadra. Hard to imagine, I know, but true. I
translated this more as if he were talking like a child so that Ryu's next
line makes sense, because in English female speech isn't clearly marked.
     5. Thus proving that not *all* Galactors disapprove of Katse's habit
of clearing out of exploding bases.
     6. Jinpei might complain, but Katse's tactics are the only ones that
make sense when dealing with the Science Ninja Team. Cowardice doesn't come
into it-- it's a question of efficiency.Script: Gatchaman I #101 Hebi-Cobra, the Sniper Group

Ken and Joe are in an alley.

     KEN: You don't look well, Joe. What's wrong? Tell me! If there's
anything I can do...
     JOE: It's none of your business, Ken!
     KEN: What?
     JOE: Leave me alone. I know myself best. I want you to stop worrying
about things that don't concern you.
     KEN: So how come *you,* the best shot in the Science Ninja Team, miss
the target with the Ultra Bird Missiles? Why did you fail at the Whirlwind
Fighter, *twice!* (1)
     JOE: Shut up!

He punches Ken into a fence.

     KEN: Looks like we have to settle this with our fists.
     JOE: I hate people who don't know when to quit.

Ken slugs him into some barrels.

     JOE: Bastard! 

They get into a fight. Joe is about to punch Ken when their bracelets start
beeping.

     JOE: Wait a minute, we're getting an order.
     KEN: Yes, this is G-1, Gatchaman, Eagle Ken. What is it?
     JOE: This is G-2. What is it?
     NAMBU: Science Ninja Team, assemble at my house.
     KEN: Roger.
     NARR: As leader of the Science Ninja Team, and as his best friend, Ken
worries about Joe. Joe understands how Ken feels. But if he were to let Ken
know of his problems, Ken would take him off the team, and Joe would never
forgive himself. 
     
At Nambu's country house.

     NAMBU: What happened to the two of you?
     JUN: What terrible bruises.
     JINPEI: Did you guys get attacked by Galactor?
     KEN: It wasn't anything.
     JOE: Just a little man-to-man talk.
     JINPEI AND RYU: Oh, *cool!*
     NAMBU: Listen! The reason I called you in is this. ISO Headquarters
sends a great deal of vital data to several nations. I have recently
discovered that someone has been stealing this information.
     JINPEI: Galactor!
     RYU: Yeah, that's for sure. They've tried to go after us so many
times...
     JUN: But Dr. Nambu, ISO's secret codes can't be all that easy to
break!
     NAMBU: Only people on the inside know the special wavelength. It would
be impossible for outsiders to learn it.
     KEN: Doctor, can't we just trace the thieves' signal back and catch
them that way?
     NAMBU: I tried that, of course. But the signal was scrambled, so we
couldn't trace it.
     JOE: That sounds like Galactor, all right.
     RYU: They really play dirty!
     NAMBU: The third building had a wiretap going directly to the spies'
headquarters, but...
     JUN: I've an idea! We might be able to use our bracelets to trace back
the signal!
     NAMBU: I see. You can secretly uncover the source of the scrambling.
All right, take care of it.
     JOE: Let's go, guys!
     JINPEI: Joe aniki is too hyper.
     KEN: Wait, Joe! If we all go together, we'll stick out like sore
thumbs. Leave it to Jun and me this time.
     JOE: What! Ken, is that what I get for the fight? That's dirty pool!
     KEN: Don't be stupid! I just--
     NAMBU: Both of you! Ken is right. Joe, Jinpei and Ryu, you remain here
until Ken orders otherwise.
     JOE: Huh.
     NAMBU: Listen, Ken. If the contents of this data were to fall into
Galactor hands, it would cause no end of trouble. I want you to find them,
whatever it takes.
     KEN: I understand. Jun, let's go!
     JUN: Roger!
     JOE: Ken! We're not through yet. (approaches Ken) Take my airgun with
you. And don't get yourself killed, Ken.
     KEN: It'll get in my way, but I'll take it.

At ISO.

     ISO GUY: Here, we monitor the most important rooms in this building 24
hours a day. Take a look at this. If a secret wiretap is planted, a special
signal is always emitted. There's the proof that our signals are being
tapped. 
     KEN: And you can't trace it and block it?
     ISO GUY: That's right. No one anywhere outside this building ought to
be able to pick up our signals, so...
     KEN: That means that they've got to be in this headquarters,
someplace. Jun! Go through the rooms carefully, one by one, on the TV
monitors. 
     JUN: Okay.
     NARR: So the two of them inspected each room meticulously, from the
basement on up to the 50th floor. But in no room on any floor could they
find an object anything at all like a bug.
     KEN: Shit, what a waste of time! Where could they have hidden it?
     JUN: That's right-- there's one floor left! Maybe...
     KEN: What?-- I see. I didn't notice there was a penthouse.
     JUN: This is just a hunch on my part, but I think something smells
fishy.
     
At the door to the roof.

     KEN: (reading sign) Escort Helicopter Construction-- Keep Out.

He tries his bracelet. It responds.

     JUN: We found it!
     KEN: I see. Stealing information from the antenna-- that's the way
Galactor works, all right. It'd be easy for them to get our secret signals
this way.
     GAL 1: All right, I've got all the new data!
     GAL 2: Better report to Katse-sama!
     KATSE: What is it, Spy B-2?
     GAL 2: We've finished our mission!
     KATSE: I see. Excellent! Bring your data and come back to base ASAP!
     GALS: Yes sir!
     GAL 1: Let's go back!
     GAL 2: Right! Close the hatch!
     GAL 1: Okay!

Ken and Jun are locked in the back room they hid in.

     KEN: Shit! Jun, we're trapped!
     JUN: Looks like we have to go to their base with them.
     GAL 1: Ready to launch!
     GAL 2: Okay!
     ISO GUY: Unidentified rocket launched and heading north! Speed Mach 5!
UN Air Force, launch!
     PILOT: I have rocket in sight! Ready to fire!
     GAL 1: Irritating little nuisances.
     GAL 2: Let's surprise them!

The Galactor mecha takes out the UN Forces.

     ISO GUY: Dr. Nambu, the United Nations' Air Force was defeated. Please
send out the GOD PHOENIX!
     NAMBU: I'm sorry, but at the moment the GOD PHOENIX is being
overhauled and can't go out.
     RYU: Whattya mean, it's being overhauled, Doctor?
     JINPEI: Doctor, that's got to be a Galactor rocket! Are we just gonna
let it get away?
     NAMBU: Since they haven't contacted me yet, I'm sure Ken and Jun must
be aboard that rocket.
     RYU: I see!
     JINPEI: If we attacked it, we'd be attacking aniki and onechan!
     NAMBU: I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do except wait.
     RYU: But we don't even know where they're going.
     JINPEI: Do you think it'll be all right, Joe?
     RYU: Hey, where'd he go?
     JINPEI: What a cold person! Aniki and onechan are in trouble, and he
leaves!
     NAMBU: G-1, G-3, come in. This is Nambu. (nothing) It's useless. The
jamming signal is keeping them from contact.

Aboard mecha. It has landed at a base.

     KEN: Looks like we're there.

Outside the mecha, the two Galactors give Katse the tape.

     KATSE: Good work. Gatchaman didn't notice you?
     GAL 1: It went great. They didn't notice a thing. Guess we caught'em
napping.
     KATSE: Excellent! I'll make a copy immediately and have it analyzed.
     GAL 1: Ah, Katse-sama, you forgot something...
     GAL 2: Uh-- didn't you say that if we succeeded, you were going to
promote us to captains?
     KATSE: Shut up! After I've analyzed the data, and *if* it's useful,
we'll talk! Now keep your mouths shut and go overhaul your mecha! Go!
     GAL 1: Yes, sir.
     GAL 2: After we did all that work, too.

Aboard mecha.

     KEN: We've got to hurry up and get out of here. (prepares to kick
door)
     JUN: Wait! We can't make so much noise!
     KEN: (taking out Joe's airgun) There's no other way. We have to use
this. 

He begins to drill a hole in the door. The Galactors enter the mecha.

     GAL 1: Katse's a slavedriver.
     GAL 2: That's why he never wins! 

     GAL 1: (hears Ken drilling) Huh?
     GAL 2: Hey, what's wrong?
     GAL 1: Shh. 

Gal 1 peers in keyhole and gets a faceful of metal filings. Ken kicks open
the door. Gal 2 puts a gun to his head.

     GAL 2: Don't move! Give me that!

Ken fires Joe's gun backward and hits the Galactor in the face. 
     
     KATSE: What is it? What's that noise, now?
     GAL 3: We'll go take a look.
     
Two Galactors go aboard the mecha. Katse finishes making the tape as two
people in Galactor costumes come back out.

     KATSE: The copy's finished. I'll take this and show it to Overlord X.
(One of the Galactors puts a gun to Katse's head) What is this joke?
     KEN: This is no joke. Give me back the tape you stole.
     KATSE: That voice--!
     ALL THE GALACTORS: *The Science Ninja Team!*
     KATSE: You--! 
     
Katse tries to bolt, but Ken steps on his cape.

     KEN: It's too early to run for it, Katse. Stand up. Stand up! (Katse
does, with bad grace) Now give me back the tape you hid in your pocket!
     GALS: Shit!
     JUN: Make a move and you'll be Swiss cheese!
     KEN: Give it up! Hand over the tape.
     
Katse drops the tape on the floor. As Ken moves to pick it up, Katse kicks
it out of reach, and then kicks Ken. Jun retrieves the tape with her yo-yo.
     
     KEN: All right, Jun, run for it!
     KATSE: They're getting away! Fire!

The two jump behind the mecha and come back in Bird Style.

     KEN: G-1, Gatchaman!
     JUN: G-3, Swan Jun!
     KEN: Bird Run! 

There is a fight.
     
     KEN: Bird Kick!

Katse heads for DEVIL STAR.

     JUN: Ken!
     KATSE (from aboard DEVIL STAR) Gatchaman, I have a copy of the entire
tape. I regret to say there is no escape!
     KEN: Jun, let's get out of here!

They grab onto DEVIL STAR with Jun's yo-yo, and fly out with Katse. But the
yo-yo loses hold, and they tumble into a swamp.

     KEN: Jun, are you all right?
     JUN: I'm fine-- but there's no point to our having gotten this tape
back.
     KEN: There's nothing we can do. Anyway, let's get out of here!

They are in the middle of nowhere.

     KEN: They have a base way out here?
     JUN: There's no way we can escape!
     KEN: It's too soon to give up. We volunteered for this job. We missed
Berg Katse and we couldn't get the data back. We can't look the others in
the face until we succeed at *something.* All we can do is escape!
     KATSE (aboard DEVIL STAR): They can't escape or hide anywhere! Roast
them slowly with the mecha!
     GAL: Yes, sir!


Galactors come out in motorboats.

     KEN: Oh, shit!

Ken and Jun get aboard one of the motorboats, but they end up crashing it.

     JUN: Ken, grenades!
     KEN: Hold on tight!

Ken fires the airgun at one of the motorboats. They kite in back for a
while, but someone shoots the cord, and they fall.

     KATSE: We did it! All right, deal with them slowly! 

Ken and Jun are captured, tied up, and dragged through the swamp.

     KATSE: Good, good! Make them suffer more! Kill the woman first!

As a Galactor prepares to shoot Jun, Joe shoots the Galactor, and jumps
into the G-2.

     KATSE: The Science Ninja Team again! 

Joe frees Ken and Jun.

     KATSE: Damned brat! Form up! Unite into Hebi-Cobra, and destroy him!
     
Joe prepares to drive at Hebi-Cobra.

     KEN: Joe, stop, it's too dangerous! Call the GOD PHOENIX!
     JOE: I can deal with it by myself! Watch this, Ken!

Joe has a flashback to his earlier failures.

     KEN: So how come *you,* the best shot in the Science Ninja Team, miss
the target with the Ultra Bird Missiles? Why did you fail at the Whirlwind
Fighter, *twice!*
     
Joe drives up the back of Hebi-Cobra and destroys it.

     JOE: I did it! (he lands) {Nothing happened. My dizziness and headache
didn't come back. It's strange. Am I back to normal? God, I hope so...}
     JUN: Thanks, Joe!
     KEN: How'd you know we were here?
     JUN: Ken, that's no way to show your gratitude.
     KEN: Can't you obey Dr. Nambu's and my orders for *once?*
     JOE: Sorry, Ken. I just wanted to test myself one more time. So I
don't fail again.
     JUN: But how *did* you know we were here?

Joe reveals that he planted a bug in his airgun. Jun laughs. Aboard Devil
Star.

     KATSE: Dammit, Gatchaman did it again! But ISO's research data is in
my hands now. I'm looking forward to learning what's going on!
     JOE: Berg Katse, I'm going to kill you with my own hands!   
     
1. These refer to events in #99. From this, it seems that #101 is supposed
to take place chronologically directly after #99, and #100 was just a
filler episode that was thrown in.Script: Gatchaman I #102      Checkmate! Reversal X

Translated by Yumiko Mizuno and Alara Rogers, with an assist from Kenneth
Mayer.

A city is attacked by Galactor. The team hear about it on the news as they
relax at the J.

     ANNOUNCER: This is a special news report. Today at about 11 AM,
Galactor monstermecha launched an attack on R City. Up to now, R City has
avoided being the target of any major attacks, but now the city is on the
verge of destruction. The blows continue as the UN Forces' furious defense
of the city rages.
     KEN: Did he say Galactor?
     RYU: R City? That's real far away.
     JUN: That's strange. Dr. Nambu hasn't contacted us or anything.
     KEN (to bracelet): Dr. Nambu. Doctor!... Looks like he's not in.
     JINPEI: That's funny. When the Doctor goes out, he's supposed to carry
a little radio.
     KEN: Is Galactor trying to fool us? Launch the God Phoenix. Jun,
contact Joe and tell him about the emergency.
     JUN: Roger!

Aboard GP.

     JUN: Ken! I can't reach Joe!
     RYU: Here we go again.
     KEN: Joe! Joe! Answer! Joe! Joe!

Joe doesn't answer.

     KEN: It's no use. He's not answering.
     JUN: It's strange. First Dr. Nambu, now Joe.
     KEN: Ryu! Try to reach Director Anderson.
     RYU: Got it.

Anderson appears on screen.

     ANDERSON: Ah, the Science Ninja Team. Finally, you've contacted me.
     KEN: Finally? But then, Dr. Nambu--
     ANDERSON: I'm afraid Dr. Nambu hasn't put in an appearance at ISO,
either for the entire past month.
     JUN: Huh? Where do you think he could have gone?
     ANDERSON: I realize you can't take action without a direct order from
Nambu. But, Gatchaman--
     KEN: I understand. I'll ask his approval afterward. We'll head for R
City right now. Ryu! Close the hatch for the G-2!
     JUN: Joe hasn't shown up yet!
     RYU: He's not here! We can't wait around for him all day!

Joe, at the underground doctor's.

     JOE: So what's wrong with me? (1)
     DR: It'll take three days. Yours is a very difficult case.
     JOE: Jeez! Some doctor *you* are.
     DR: If you're in a hurry, you should have gone to a local doctor. You
shouldn't have come to an underground doctor like me.
     JOE: Shit.
     DR: I don't know what you do for a living, but it's rare to find
someone who tries to hide his occupation by taking off his wristwatch when
he goes to the doctor.
     JOE: What?
     DR: Or a bracelet, perhaps? You have a tan line on your left wrist.
     JOE: You're an underground doctor, all right. No wonder you're so
slick.

He leaves. The elevator is occupied.

     JOE: Damn.

Joe takes the stairs. The woman captain arrives by elevator, and knocks.

     DR: Yes, who is it?
     CAPTAIN: It's me.
     DR: Oh, it's you! Please, come in! (She does.) I rented this building
and put in all the equipment, just like you told me. But occasionally a
real patient comes in, which is a nuisance.
     CAPTAIN: Doesn't matter. Just pretend and give them a glucose shot.
Anyway, I'll be finishing up today. (sits at telescope) Ah, yes. You can
see really well from here. That's Nambu's mansion?
     DR: You know what's funny, he's hardly gone out for the whole month.
He's been staying in his room the entire time, and he's got a ton of books
spread out all over the place. Must be rough, being a scholar.
     CAPTAIN: All right, the Science Ninja Team have been lured to R City.
Carry out the plan!
     DR: Yes, ma'am!
     CAPTAIN (thinks) {Poor pitiful Nambu, there's something Galactor wants
from you. Your life, and the life of the Science Ninja Team!}
     
Joe outside his trailer.

     NARR: Joe has been getting worried about his health, which is getting
worse. But he was afraid that if he went to a licensed doctor, Ken and the
others would find out, and suspend him from the Science Ninja Team. So he
went to an underground doctor. But now he regrets it. No matter who he
sees, he's afraid to learn his true condition.

Nambu studying.

     NARR: At the same time, Dr. Nambu has been continuing his research,
avoiding all contact with the outside world. Earlier, Nambu received a
document pertaining to the woman Galactor captain, who may be Berg Katse.
(2) He is in the process of deciphering it. In it, an image has finally
surfaced of a single student, with an IQ of 280, who changed schools every
year-- and was at times a male, at other times a female.

Back to Joe.

     JOE: I'm going to get him to get rid of my exam records. It doesn't do
me any good to find out the name of what's wrong with me now.

The Science Ninja Team are in a prolonged fight with bug mecha.

     KEN: Strange. They're too weak. Could it really be these things that
attacked the city? (to bracelet) Everyone! Gather together in the GOD
PHOENIX!
     JUN: What's wrong, Ken?
     KEN: We've been tricked. Don't sit around chatting, link up!

Back at doctor's office.

     DR: Why do you feel this is so important?
     CAPTAIN: Use your head for once. If we capture Nambu, then we can
prevent the Science Ninja Team from attacking after they return. That's
what my goal is.
     
Joe on the stairs.

     JOE: It's better to give a lot of money to this kind of guy than it is
to try and threaten him. It's only money, after all.

Outside.

     DR: It's really coming down, isn't it? (Captain gets in car.) Anyway,
I'll be moving out of the building tomorrow, as you said. Please tell
Katse-sama.

Joe sees.

     JOE: That's-- the woman Galactor captain! (he attacks doctor) You
bastard!
     DR: Who're you?--

Joe beats up on doctor, transmutes, and pursues Captain in car.

     JOE: Trying to run away, are you?

Aboard GP.

     KEN: Look! Nobody's inside the monstermech. There's just a simple
device running it. What we've been going after are essentially a bunch of
toys.
     JUN: Then I wonder how they managed to do so much damage to this city.
     KEN: They had human pilots in them when they were destroying the city
and fighting off the UN forces, I'll bet. As soon as we got here, the
pilots abandoned ship and ran for it. But why? Damn Galactor, they lured us
here. They must be plotting something. Ryu! Take us home!
     EVERYONE: Roger!
     KEN: We can leave it to the UN from here on. There won't be any harm
done by us leaving. Jun! Send Director Anderson a message and ask him to
take care of this. Damn it, where the hell is Dr. Nambu? Joe!

Where Dr. Nambu is.

     KATSE (laughs): So Sleeping Beauty awakens, Dr. Nambu.
     NAMBU: Berg Katse.
     KATSE: At last, you've fallen into my hands. There's no point in
continuing a futile battle.
     NAMBU: Are you planning to kill me?
     KATSE: Yes, of course. You and the Science Ninja Team are nothing but
obstructions to Galactor's glorious future.
     NAMBU: I see. That's a shame. After I'd finally learned what you truly
are.
     KATSE: What?
     NAMBU: I've been doing nothing but research for the past month,
avoiding contact with the outside world, sitting in my study and slaving
away. It would be a shame to be killed before I can publish.
     KATSE: Ah well, Dr. Nambu. That's what happens in the world of
research.

There's an explosion as Joe crashes into the base.

     KATSE: What's all that racket?
     GAL: Katse-sama, it's the Science Ninja Team!
     KATSE: They're here?
     JOE: This is G-2. Ken, come in!

Aboard GP.

     KEN: Is that you, Joe? Where are you now? What's going on? Jun,
triangulate on Joe's signal! Ryu, full power!
     RYU: Roger!
     KEN: So it was you after all, Katse. You lured us away and plotted
something when our backs were turned.

Back at base.

     NAMBU: Berg Katse, it seems my luck is still with me. I might actually
be able to publish my research.
     KATSE: Oh, come now, Dr. Nambu. My fun is just beginning! Make
yourself comfortable. I don't want you interfering, so I'm going to lower
this partition. You can see and hear the beginnings of a marvelous show.
You will be the first to see Mechaziner, the unmasker of the Science Ninja
Team! (3)
     JOE: Berg Katse, where are you? Are you in here, Katse! This is Condor
Joe of the Science Ninja Team!
     KATSE: Shut up, you gutter rat! I'm over here!
     JOE: Trying to escape, Katse?

Joe runs after Katse, who gets behind Mechaziner.

     KATSE: Fire!

The bolt hits Joe, who staggers, transforming.

     JOE (snarls): Katse!

Joe collapses. A bunch of Galactors run up to see.

     KATSE: I did it! I did it! (to Galactors) Now, now, men. Don't push.
This is the end of the Science Ninja Team! Take turns shooting him, a
single shot to a man. (to Nambu) Do you hear, Nambu? Do you see the pitiful
form of your precious protg? Yes. You will be a decoy to bring in the
rest of the Ninja Team. As you see, the first goose is cooked! Fire!

This is interrupted by the arrival of the team.

     KEN: Berg Katse! Here comes the Science Ninja Team!

There is a fight.

     KATSE: Damn it, I hate when this happens! Get out of my way! I'll kill
you!

Joe wakes up and fires into the barrel of Mechaziner just as Katse fires.
The resulting backlash blows off Katse's mask and throws Katse into the
wall. (4) Everyone gasps, and Joe, tosses aside the gun, stepping toward
Katse.

     JOE: Your mask has been blown away, Katse. You've seen my face, so now
why don't you show us yours? (he grabs Katse, and tries to turn the face
toward the team. Katse struggles.) Prepare yourself, Katse. Turn this way.
     NAMBU: Stop, Joe.
     JOE: Huh?
     NAMBU: I know what Katse is. Seeing the face won't tell you the whole
story.
     KEN: Doctor!
     NAMBU: Berg Katse. At times, the woman Galactor captain.
     JUN: So she *was.*
     NAMBU: But not a woman either.
     RYU: Huh? Not a woman, but not a man either? So what is it?
     NAMBU: A mutant, with male and female combined in a single body.
     JOE: Bastard.

He drops Katse, who falls to the floor as if in despair.

     NAMBU: Originally, they were to have been born as fraternal twins, a
male and a female, but some unusual power merged them into one, so they
were born as a single being. That was the reason for the unusually high IQ.
Hardly a genius at all-- only the possessor of the brain cells of two
people. (5)
     JUN: That was why the changing schools every year?
     NAMBU: As a child, Katse changed from male to female, female to male,
every year whether he willed it or no. He kept changing home and school
because he feared the eyes of the world on him. But now Katse can become
male or female at will. (to Katse) Only, there's one thing I don't
understand, Berg Katse. What caused your mutation? Was it radiation from
nuclear explosions? If so, then scientists like me must take partial
responsibility for your existence. But the country where you were born has
historically been neutral. (6) I can't imagine how it could have become
radioactive. What could have caused a pair of fraternal twins to be born as
a single mutant?

Katse begins to laugh, in both male and female voices, and turns around,
facing the team with a face that seems to shift back and forth between male
and female as we watch.

     KATSE: Dr. Nambu and the Science Ninja Team! Are you happy, now that
you know what I truly am? Are you satisfied? (laughs) But there's nothing
you can do with the knowledge. That's right! Alone of all the Earth, I am a
mutant born to the destiny of a conqueror! Alone of all humanity, I was
chosen by my god-- Overlord X!
     
The air ionizes, and glass starts to fly about as X manifests. A large
piece nearly hits Dr. Nambu.

     KEN: Watch out!
     X: (appears) Dr. Nambu, I am X, Overlord of Galactor. Brilliant. It
was brilliant of you to figure out what Katse truly is. But Katse is my
beloved protg. My assistant, which I created myself. Dr. Nambu, the Earth
will be destroyed. It is destined to be destroyed. (7) Until that day
comes, I will need Katse. We'll meet again. Next time I'll mean business.
You'll get a real challenge then.

As X vanishes, Katse runs for it. Ken goes for his boomerang, but hesitates
a split-second-- and Katse is gone.

     JOE: Ken, why didn't you throw your boomerang at Katse?
     KEN: I did have a chance, there. But for a second, I could only feel
pity for Katse.
     JINPEI: But aniki, he's not human! He's a mutant, isn't he? (8)
     KEN: Yes, he is. But he would have been born as a pair of human twins.
When he realized the nature of his body, he must have cursed himself. He
fled from school to school to avoid the eyes of humanity, surviving by
hiding. It must have been a miserable life. If Overlord X hadn't come, he
would never have entered Galactor, never have become their leader. They
would have been like any other brother and sister. (9)
     JOE: But we can't excuse him for that.
     KEN: I just lost it for a moment. The next time they make a move,
then--
     NAMBU: That's right. Then the real battle begins. Team, everything
depends on you. I'm beginning to learn the true structure of Galactor. If
we use the right methods, Galactor will fall. But if we fail, the Earth...
We must fight with the fate of the Earth at stake.
     NARR: Berg Katse's true identity had been revealed. But the hearts of
the Science Ninja Team were heavy. They doubted their ability to fight
Overlord X, whose power had been proved to be sufficient to transform a
pair of human twins into a single mutant.

     1. Joe is at the doctor because of health problems-- numbness, double
vision-- that last turned up in episodes #98 and #99.
     2. Nambu received the document-- a series of school records,
actually-- in ep. #88.
     3. Actually, I think Joe was the first to see the Mechaziner-- it
first appeared in ep. #76, and was successfully used on Joe and Ken.
     4. Isn't it convenient how the blast only got the mask? Me, I think it
would have been fun if it got the top half of all Katse's clothes... 
     5. I have a *serious* problem with this. In the first place, IQ
doesn't mean a lot-- but given the way they test it, two people who work
together are not going to do twice as well as one. They might do a little
better, but not twice as well. The 280 IQ itself indicates a different IQ-
testing system, as IQ doesn't *go* higher than 200. If it really was an IQ
of 280, presumably the component personalities would have IQ's of 140-- but
that's still genius level. The biggest problem I have with all this,
however, is that there is no way to fit "the brain cells of two people" in
a cranium the size of Katse's. For it to make any sense, Katse has to be
combined at the cellular level at least, possibly the genetic level, and
therefore he should have the same number of brain cells as everyone else.
Besides which, Katse seems to have a singular identity, referring to
himself as "I" rather than "we" when he's referring to both sides at once,
which would seem to contradict the "brain cells of two people" theory out
the wazoo. In any case, in order to get an IQ of 280, whether the scale
goes up to 200 or higher than that, and assuming IQ measures anything other
than aptitude at taking IQ tests, there is no way Katse could get that kind
of score just from being two people. He's still a genius. So nyaah, nyaah,
Dr. Nambu.
     6. A neutral country-- I have wondered where, exactly. Katse's name is
of Germanic derivation, but I don't care how alternate the universe is,
Germany's not neutral. Perhaps Katse is Swiss-- they speak French and
German, and he certainly looks like he could be. In any case, it's
certainly ironic that a neutral country would have produced the worst
terrorist of all time.
     7. "The Earth is destined to be destroyed?" One wonders whether Katse
heard that remark, and if so, where his brain was-- he lives here, after
all, and has no desire to see the place destroyed. Ground under his
bootheel, yes, but not destroyed.
     8. It's this kind of attitude that probably helped make Katse what he
was. Katse is not evil *because* he's a mutant, as Jinpei seems to imply--
raised under different circumstances, how do we know he'd have been evil?
     9. If anyone is interested in a story that explores this alternate,
"The Kids That Got Away" by Alara Rogers was written specifically around
that line, and I'll make copies for any interested parties.
Script: Gatchaman I #103      G-2 Risks Death

translated by Alara Rogers (all by herself, and she must have been insane
for trying)
with final draft assistance by Naoto Kadowaki

Joe is driving. He experiences double vision.

     JOE: Shit!
     NARR: The violent dizziness and splitting headaches that have
assaulted Joe from time to time are increasing in frequency. But Joe does
not want to let anyone know. He will go on fighting until the hateful
Galactor falls by his hand. Joe drives as if pushing aside the fear of his
own approaching death.

Galactors show up and eventually drive Joe to crash on the side of the
road. He falls unconscious on the ground.

     CHIEF: Well now, *this* is an unexpected gift. He's not as great as
they all say, is he. Maybe now I'll finally be promoted from chief to
captain.
     
In Galactor airship.

     KATSE (in disguise): You must forgive us for interrupting your sport
at the racetrack.
     JOE: What does Galactor want with a racer like me?
     KATSE: What indeed? I've received a report stating that you are G-2 of
the Science Ninja Team. Is this true?
     JOE: I don't understand. What's this "G-2" or "Science Ninja Team"
mean?
     KATSE: You don't know? That bastard's caused us no end of trouble. As
for who he is, he goes about calling himself a so-called "ally of justice."
     JOE: Yeah? And you say he reminds you of me? What an honor.
     KATSE: Well then, the reason for this conference is because I would
like to know the real names of the rest of the Science Ninja Team. (takes
off disguise) How does that sound to you, dear Condor Joe?
     JOE: Jeez. The purple prince shows up again. I already know what you
look like, so why don't you take your mask off, Mr. Berg Katse?
     CHIEF: *What* did you just say to our leader? Apologize!
     JOE: Back off, you little piece of shit.
     KATSE: Just what I'd expect from Condor Joe of the Science Ninja Team.
You have an excellent spirit, but... you should realize, you could die here
by a single order from me. That doesn't frighten you?
     JOE: Don't go thinking I'm a coward like you.
     KATSE: *What* did you-- Well, never mind it. If you tell me the true
identities of the other four, I'll spare your life at least.
     JOE: I see. So, which should I do? You already know *my secret
identity, and after all, life is sweet...
     KATSE: Yes? Will you tell me? Go on, go on?
     JOE: Listen carefully. The secret identities of the other four...
     KATSE: Yes? Yes?
     JOE: How should I put this... I've got it. Their secret identities are
that of brave, good people who make you Galactors look like the gutter
slime you are.
     KATSE: What the--?!
     JOE: *This* is all I've got to tell *you!*

He slugs Katse. A fight ensues.

     CHIEF: Shit! Where the hell's he hiding?
     GAL: I can't see a thing, chief. 

The sound of Joe's footsteps disappears.

     CHIEF: It's stopped. (a dead body appears) Careful! The enemy's
nearby! Wh-- what was that?
     GAL: There he is!
     CHIEF: There should be a window over there. Open it!
     GAL: Yes, chief!
     CHIEF: What's going on??
     GAL: He's over there!!
     KATSE: Damn you, brat! You're not getting away!

Katse catches Joe in the spotlight.

     CHIEF: Come on, get up. Yeah, there's a good boy. Stand up slowly for
us, why don't you. (he and the others beat Joe) Eat this!  How d'you like
*this?* (laughs) Where'd that ferocious spirit go?
     GAL: Bastard!
     CHIEF: Take this!
     KATSE: How's that ferocious spirit? Ready yet to spit out the names of
the other four?
     JOE: You... still don't get it, do... you. I'm not about... to tell...
a bastard like you... anything. (spits at Katse)
     KATSE: You *do* have balls, don't you. It's too bad. If I'd had just
one man like you working for me, the entire course of this war might have
been different. Hold him!

Katse beats Joe. The Galactors join in again.

     CHIEF: Yeah, take that!
     KATSE: So you've finally quieted down. It's a sad thing to see one of
the famed Science Ninja Team in this state. No matter what you and your
team do, it's only a matter of time now. It seems you don't realize how
close Galactor's work is to its conclusion. I'm going to take you hostage
to prevent Gatchaman from doing anything. All right! Make preparations for
the Black Hole Operation! Hurry to Cross Karakoram!
     GAL: All of the Science Ninja Team as Galactor captives?
     CHIEF: Yep. We'll have'em all soon.
     JOE: Go ahead and yell, if you want to die. Otherwise don't move!
     CHIEF: He's getting away! Shit! 
     GAL: Ah! He jumped!

Joe, having forced open the door to the airship, falls out it with a cry.

     GAL: I guess he must not've known we were up in the air, huh, chief.
     CHIEF: Maybe. All I know for sure's that my promotion to captain just
went out the window. He'll be dead in seconds.

     JOE (falling): BIRD GO!

He transforms to Bird Style and lands in the middle of the road. An
oncoming car narrowly avoids hitting him.

     DRIVER: Stupid bastard! Be careful! What are you doing playing around
in a place like this with a funny suit for! (Joe collapses) Hey, what's
wrong? Are you all right? Hey!

At a Galactor base.

     GAL 1: Hell of a lot of big drills we've been making. What're they
saying all this is for? Do you know?
     GAL 2: Not really. All I can tell you is what's on the rumor mill-- I
heard that the Overlord *personally* designed this mecha, and he's
overseeing the details. Katse's just following his instructions.
     GAL 1: Ah-- watch it!
     BOTH: Work work work.
     KATSE: Mm! The work seems to be proceeding smoothly everywhere I look,
chief.
     CHIEF: Yes, sir. The finishing touches are coming in according to
schedule. At this rate, we might finish faster than projected.
     KATSE: Really! But first, why don't we try to eliminate that
interfering Gatchaman? (1)

At a hospital. Joe is waking up. He overhears a doctor talking to Nambu.
     
     DOCTOR: Yes... yes... that's why I called you... yes. He's terribly
wounded. The external injuries are nothing out of the ordinary, really,
but... no, there's no mistake. He said he was G-2. Yes, that's right...
It's an old wound, but it looks like there's several bullet fragments
inside... Leaving aside the other wounds, it's the one in his brain that's
life-threatening... I can't really say more without a more detailed
examination, but, from seeing his condition... well, I'm terribly sorry,
but... a week, or maybe at the most ten days...
     REPETITION: *At the most ten days... ten days... ten days...*
     DOCTOR: Ah-- he's gone.

Joe walks along the streets, remembering things he's heard today.
     DOCTOR (V.O.) It's an old wound, but it looks like there's several
bullet fragments inside... Leaving aside the other wounds, it's the one in
his brain that's life-threatening... I can't really say more without a more
detailed examination, but, from seeing his condition... well, I'm terribly
sorry, but... a week, or maybe at the most ten days...
     KATSE (V.O) It seems you don't realize how close Galactor's work is to
its conclusion. Hurry to Cross Karakoram! Hurry!
     JOE: {Cross Karakoram... that's in the Himalayan mountains. There's
something there...}

At Galactor HQ. 

     KATSE: An announcement to the crew of Fibren! Our Black Hole Operation
will soon begin! Before it does, launch the Fibren Operation!

     NAMBU: At 9:50 this morning there was an earthquake in the province of
Punjig, going from 8th to 9th magnitude. Most of the towns collapsed and
burned. At the same time, though not on the same scale, there were reports
coming in from all over the world about earthquakes. And that isn't the
only disturbing thing. Various epicenters for the earthquakes have broken
apart, and there have been earthquakes in volcanic zones as well.     
     KEN: Which means...
     JOE: Someone's causing this artificially.
     NAMBU: Exactly. They're plotting something. What's even more
frightening--
     KEN: Namely, that Galactor-- (Joe groans.) Joe, what's wrong?
     JOE: Uh-- nothing. Don't worry about it.
     KEN: You don't look too good...
     JOE: It's, uh-- it's just from thinking about this. Don't worry about
it..
     JUN: So, Doctor, what's our job, then? (Nambu is not paying attention,
looking at Joe instead.) Dr. Nambu?!
     NAMBU: Ah-- uh, if Galactor is plotting something, it's up to us to
stop them as soon as possible. I want you to investigate the connection
between Galactor and the earthquakes of late. Go!
     ALL: Roger!
     NAMBU: Joe, you stay here!
     RYU: Ah-- whaddya mean, Doctor?
     KEN: What's wrong, Dr. Nambu?
     JOE: I'm *going,* Doctor!
     NAMBU: I won't allow it! Joe, you should know your own condition
better than anyone!
     KEN: Condition? Joe-- are you sick after all?
     JOE: I told you it was nothing! Doctor, I *am* going. Am I just
supposed to let Galactor do whatever it wants?
     NAMBU: I'm going to give you a complete physical. If it turns out
there's nothing wrong with you, you can go attack as you like. This is an
order. Ken! I'll be praying for your success. Please, go!
     KEN: But-- but, Doctor!!
     NAMBU: There's no time to waste standing around! *Go!!*
     KEN: I-- I understand.
     JOE: Ken! You take the G-2 onto the God Phoenix instead of me, okay? 
     KEN: Let's go!
     NAMBU: We're going to run a CAT scan on your brain, Joe. Please come
with me to the examination room.-- Joe! Joe, you...
     JOE: Dr. Nambu... everybody... take care of yourselves. I leave the
rest of it to you...

Aboard GP.

     KEN: Huh? Joe did what?
     NAMBU: He must have known about his physical problems for a long time
before this.
     JUN: Doctor! Is Joe-- is Joe's condition really that bad? (Nambu is
silent)
     KEN: Then where'd he go?
     NAMBU: I don't know.
     KEN: We'll go look for him!
     NAMBU: No, wait. Some time ago we detected another rather large
earthquake. The epicenter was a point 400 kilometers southwest of the
Torimi Island continental shelf. I want you to go there and investigate
immediately.
     KEN: Yes, sir.
     RYU: Joe, you idiot! You always had to put on this damn macho act--
     KEN: I was careless. I've thought for a while he was acting funny...
why didn't I do anything about it then? I've failed my position as leader
of the Science Ninja Team! (desolately) Anyway, let's go on. Dive.
     RYU: Right.

Joe, on a plane.

     JOE: So this is Cross Karakoram. Galactor's hiding something here in
the Himalayas. Watch this, you damned Galactors!
     
Aboard GP.

     JUN: Seismic activity is getting greater and greater. Ah! Ken! We're
getting a reaction on radar!
     RYU: Ken! What's *that?*

A humonguous mecha appears.

     KEN: What's the reading now?
     JUN: Ken! Magnitude is 0! It's strange. Why in the world?...
     RYU: We're getting out of here!
     KEN: There's probably some sort of connection between that mecha and
the earthquakes. Get in close!
     JINPEI: That thing's a *monster!*
     KEN: Shit!

At Cross Karakoram.

     JOE: {It's a Galactor base. Bigger than any base of theirs I've seen
before.} Ken! This is G-2!
     CHIEF: This is just what we expect from G-2 of the Science Ninja Team.
You've done well, to survive this long. But you can't be permitted to find
the key to Galactor's headquarters.
     JOE: Headquarters! This is their headquarters... *this* place...
     CHIEF: It's too bad that after going to all this trouble to find our
headquarters, you have to die just before reaching it... but since that's
your destiny, you may as well resign yourself to it.
     JOE: Doesn't matter to me. If you think you can take me-- (he
collapses)
     CHIEF: Oh, are we having health problems? How about I make you
*really* suffer!
     JOE: Ken! It's me! Can you hear me?

They shoot off Joe's bracelet. He detransmutes.

     CHIEF: I see. That's the device that did it, huh? Let us see you for
the first time! In return we'll give you a special treat-- all the machine
gun bullets you can eat.
     JOE: There may only be one of me, but I'm taking a lot of you bastards
with me!

He does, but the Chief shoots him.

     CHIEF: I-- I did it! I won! Even the famous G-2's aim's gone wrong.
There's no one who'll deny me my promotion from chief to captain now. 

The chief pitches over from an unnoticed shuriken in his throat. Joe sees
images of his friends.

     JOE: So tired...

More Galactors show up. 

     NARR: At the same time, at the Palomar Observatory, the biggest in the
world, the signal wave telescope has been receiving a strange signal for
several days. The scientists who have been wrestling night and day with the
explanation of this mysterious signal finally managed to catch the
disappearance of Selectro, a star in the Andromeda galaxy 2,000,000 light-
years away. (2)
     ASTRONOMER: This is strange! Selectro's vanishing!

At Cross Karakoram.

     X: What? The mecha we discussed earlier has been completed? I see.
Good work!
     KATSE: Those stupid Gatchamen are off playing with our decoy catfish.
The operation we discussed is proceeding steadily. I think this is our big
chance! {And the world in my hands, as I was promised-- from now on, I'll
be able to do whatever I like!} 

X laughs.

     KATSE: What's wrong, Overlord?
     X: Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking of all the people in the
world going pale and trembling with terror, and it rather amused me. Go,
Katse! Start the Black Hole Operation!
     KATSE: With pleasure, sir!

Note: I translated all of this episode myself, from the Anime Comics in
part, but when the Anime Comics didn't cover something I had to sit next to
the television with a dictionary and my remote control. There were about
three or four segments that I couldn't get this way, so I asked Naoto to
recite them to me in Japanese, slowly, and then I translated them.
     1. "Hey, look! The Mysterious Cat Man is really-- THE HERMAPHRODITE
MUTANT!"
     "Yes! And I could have ruled the world, if not for you meddling kids!"
     Sorry, but a line like "that interfering Gatchaman" simply forces me
to do something stupid like this.
     2. Hmm. One of the problems that's cropped up before is, if we're
seeing Selectro blow up now, it actually happened 2,000,000 years ago,
which doesn't say much for X's communication with the homeworld. If,
however, that image was carried in by a "strange signal" on a "signal wave
telescope" (whatever that is), perhaps it was an FTL transmission sent to
Earth for X's benefit, and he just wasn't paying attention at the time. It
*is* possible to make sense of this show, sometimes. With creativity. 
Script: Gatchaman I #104 The Evil Black Hole Operation

translated by Alara Rogers and Osamu Ishihara

The GOD PHOENIX is being crushed by a tentacled mecha.
     
     KEN: Ryu! Get us out of here!
     RYU: I can't! The catfish's got us in its whiskers!
     JINPEI: An' we can't use the Ultra Bird Missiles without Joe being
here!
     KEN: No, it's all right! We can!
     JUN: Really?
     KEN: G-2 is linked up with us, so we can use the Ultra Bird Missiles.
But we've got to get away from the catfish before we can fire it!
     RYU: Let's try this and see what happens. Here we go! (pulls away)
Looks like Ryu the Owl's great strength saves the day again!
     KEN: All right, turn us around!
     RYU: Roger!
     JINPEI: This is a rough ride!
     RYU: Hold onto your seats!
     KEN: Ryu, straight at it!
     RYU: Got it! Distance 500 meters!
     KEN: Now!

They fire a missile and destroy the catfish. Nambu calls.

     NAMBU: Are you all right, team? You were almost successfully trapped
by Galactor's decoy plan. 
     KEN: A decoy operation?
     RYU: Huh? Wasn't this the mecha that was causing the earthquakes?
     NAMBU: We're still feeling the quakes, so it couldn't have been. 
     JUN: Does that mean there's another mecha besides this one?
     NAMBU: Not necessarily. This could have been camouflage for a totally
different kind of operation. We've experienced this kind of earthquake
before, but Galactor never does the exact same thing twice.
     KEN: What do you mean?
     NAMBU: They're devising another enormous, more terrible plot. I'll let
you know when I find out more. First of all, you have to find Joe.

At Cross Karakoram.
     
     NARR: Joe has now used up all his strength. He has been taken to
Galactor's headquarters, and is lying on the floor as if he has no more
will to live. It looks as if the Condor will die soon.
     Meanwhile, Galactor's final and greatest plot, the Black Hole
Operation, is proceeding steadily.
     Far away in space, a star vanished. On Earth we call this world
Selectro. (1) It disappeared suddenly, but no one knew what this meant.
     X: Selectro's *vanished?* Why didn't you tell me before!
     KATSE: Overlord, what are you so upset about? One star disappears, two
stars-- surely that's only a trivial matter.
     X: That star and its planet are more important to me than anything
else.
     KATSE: Don't worry. Once the Black Hole Operation succeeds, you can
have the planet Earth instead!
     X: No. With the destruction of Selectro, I have no more dreams or
ambitions. But now that I've decided to do this, I must go through with it.
(starts to zorch out)
     KATSE: Overlord! Don't get irrational! Our drill machines will be
reaching the trench at the bottom of the mountain soon. We're going to need
help quickly.
     X: Right. I'll blow up the Earth, just like Selectro.
     KATSE: That's not what you said.
     X: That's right. Yes. If the operation continues, the people of all
the Earth will obey us, and you'll conquer the Earth. Quickly! Install the
device to create explosions!
     KATSE: As you command!
     X: Damned fool. The Earth will belong to nobody. By my hand, it will
be banished from this universe forever!

Elsewhere.

     GAL 1: The drill is suspended above the upper magma layer! 
     GAL 2: The destruct devices are set!
     KATSE: Excellent! (summons the button to start the Black Hole
Operation) After this, the Earth will at last fall into my hands! How I've
waited for this day... *Galactor Banzai!*

He hits the button and starts the operation. At ISO.

     ANDERSON (on phone) Intelligence Director, haven't we found out where
the Red Impulse squad went yet? Mm. It's been almost a week since their
last contact. Something must have come up. Set up a worldwide search.
(hangs up.) I leave it to you.

There is an earthquake at Cross Karakoram.
     
     GAL 1: Katse-sama, we're recording a quake of Richter 5!
     KATSE: Idiot! Don't panic! This base can't be harmed by even a quake
of Richter 9! Stop worrying and continue with the operation!

At ISO.

     SCIENTIST (on phone): This is the Central Earthquake Report Center.
The seismorecorders all over the world are sending this center some very
strange information. We can't handle the capacity, or record it. But it
seems to be related to a neutron reaction.
     ANDERSON: *What?* A neutron reaction?
     SCIENTIST: That's right! We think it's because somebody is causing
nuclear explosions in the depths of the Earth...
     ANDERSON: I'm on my way!

Aboard the GOD PHOENIX.

     KEN: He still hasn't contacted us. Maybe he's had an accident.
     JUN: Joe, please! Where are you? Answer, *please!*
     RYU: He could be a real jerk, but... it sure feels lonely around here
with him gone.
     JINPEI: Hey, let's split up the GOD PHOENIX and go looking for Joe
again!
     JUN: Yes! We can survey a wider range that way.
     KEN: Yes. All right! Let's search to the ends of the Earth for Condor
Joe!
     NAMBU (on screen): Team, I want you to come back.
     KEN: But Joe's still missing!
     NAMBU: Don't worry about Joe.
     JUN: Doctor...
     NAMBU: What's more important is that the most critical event in
history is now taking place, all over the Earth!
     KEN: For us, finding Joe is just as important!
     RYU: That's right!
     NAMBU: The life of one man is less important than the lives of
everyone on Earth!
     KEN: What *is* this crisis, then?
     NAMBU: I can't explain in detail now. But I'm sure that Joe'll have
found the solution for us, even if he faces certain death. Believe in him,
and come back home.
     KEN: Ryu, head northwest. We're going home.
     RYU: But that'll mean we're abandoning Joe...
     JUN: Ken!
     KEN: Do what I say. All we can do is pray that Joe's all right
somewhere.

At Cross Karakoram.

     KATSE: What's wrong, little Science Ninja maggot? What's happened to
your usual spirit, Condor Joe? You gave us so much trouble, and yet this is
all you can take? Shit! It's no fun if you die so soon. Oh, wait-- I know
how to keep you alive *and* make you suffer worse pain than your death
could ever give you. (to Gals) Take him to the lab!
     GAL: Yes sir, right away. We'll take care of him... (snickers)
     MASAKE (disguised as a Galactor): Ah, Katse-sama! Could we have his
weapons and things?
     KATSE: What can you do with broken pieces of junk like this?
     MASAKE: We'd like it as a memento of defeating the Science Ninja Team.
     KATSE: Good enough. Here you go. These things are useless to me.
     MASAKE: Thank you, sir.
     KATSE: (to other Galactors) How is the Black Hole Operation
proceeding?
     GAL: 3 bombs have been launched and exploded!

At Nambu's.

     TV: This just in. According to an AP report, a volcano has erupted
without warning in the country of Imalia, claiming a large number of
casualties. Up to the present day, this--
     NAMBU: That's the situation. It's clear to me that some man-made
process is being used by someone to cause nuclear explosions in the
interior of the Earth-- in other words, in the mantle layer.
     JUN: But I just can't believe that an ordinary nuclear explosion could
do this kind of damage.
     NAMBU: I'm afraid it's unmistakably a neutron reaction!
     JINPEI: Neutron reaction?
     RYU: You understand this, Jinpei?
     JINPEI: I get "Newton", but...
     RYU: You doofus.
     NAMBU: As you know, the mantle and magma that make up the interior of
the Earth are composed of iron and nickel, at incredibly high heat and
pressure. If a special nuclear reaction takes place in the depths of the
Earth, part of the core will turn into a neutrino beam, forming a mini-
black hole. Of course, as this happens, the currents of the mantle layer
will change, causing natural disasters everywhere. In the end...
     KEN: What would happen? Doctor!
     NAMBU: The Earth would be wiped out!
     ALL: What??
     NAMBU: The gravity of the Earth's interior would increase, until it
collapsed in on itself like a popped balloon. All there would be left would
be gravity, ripping a pitfall in the fabric of space, known as a black
hole.
     JINPEI: A pitfall in space? That's ridiculous! You can't have a
*pitfall* in *space.*
     RYU: This isn't anything to laugh about, moron!
     NAMBU: It does no good not to believe in it. If anything approaches
this region where nothing but gravity remains, it will be sucked in. That's
why it's like a pitfall. The existence of black holes was a theory advanced
by Dr. Einstein, a long time ago. 
     KEN: Then that means that that star Selectro, that disappeared
recently, was--
     NAMBU: If there is a connection... then the Earth is in the worst
danger it has been in since its birth. The only ones who could possibly do
such a terrible thing are Galactor.
     KEN: Damn Galactor! What are they doing to our precious Earth?

At Cross Karakoram.

     GAL 3: Richter magnitude 6!
     GAL 4: Are we going to be all right?
     GAL 5: Everything's shaking terribly.
     GAL 6: Should we run for it now?
     GAL 7: Hey, don't worry. Katse hasn't split yet.
     MASAKE (to Oniishi, as they repair Joe's bracelet) That one goes
there... Listen, do you think it's going to work? (Oniishi nods.) 

At Nambu's.

     NAMBU (on phone): Do you have the worldwide report on casualties?
Where are these bombs going off? Don't you *know* yet? Use the computers'
full capacity, and find out! There'll be no one left to excuse you if
you're too late! Hurry!
     KEN: Where is Joe at a time like this?

At Cross Karakoram.

     GAL 8 (snickering) Poor guy. He's gotten a little better now that I've
given him this shot. But when the effects wear off, he'll die in agony.

Joe wakes up, is confronted with a bright light, and sits up violently. A
Galactor points a gun at his chest.

     GAL 9 (to Joe): Stay there and don't move!
     GAL 8: The shot worked. Take him to Katse-sama!

In another part of the base, Galactors watch the destruction and cheer.

     GALS: We did it! We did it!
     MASAKE: I hope this works.

He begins to press on the bracelet. At Nambu's.

     KEN: Doctor! We're getting a signal from Joe!
     NAMBU: What?
     KEN: "Found Gal. HQ."-- This is ordinary Morse code.
     NAMBU: That's strange-- that he'd send such important information by
ordinary Morse.
     JINPEI: This looks like a Galactor trap!
     KEN: But my bracelet is responding-- it must be Joe! Doctor! Let us
go! Maybe Joe's gotten some important information!
     NAMBU: But as Jinpei said, it could be a Galactor trap.
     KEN: I know that. But the current danger the Earth is in has some
connection to Galactor. 
     JINPEI: That's right! I'm not scared!
     NAMBU: All right, I know. Take care of yourselves. Joe's gotten
exhausted lately. We have to find him and let him rest.
     KEN: Okay! Let's go!
     ALL: Roger!

Aboard GP.

     KEN: Jun! We've got to trace Joe's signal! Don't lose it!
     JUN: Roger!

At Cross Karakoram.
     
     KATSE: Well, it seems you've lost your chance to die, dear Condor Joe.
I hate to disappoint you, but we need you to stay alive for us just a
little while longer, so we can prevent the Science Ninja Team's attack. So,
why don't I show you something interesting?  Listen carefully, little
Condor. In a very short while, the whole world will belong to Galactor.
     JOE: What?
     KATSE: This is the heart of that plan, called the Black Hole device!
     JOE: Black Hole??
     KATSE: That's right. I imagine you're thinking, "what could that be?"
Well, I think the whole thing might be just a teensy bit too difficult for
your intellect to comprehend, but I'm sure you can understand *this* much:
when that gauge reaches zero, the Earth will be completely destroyed!
     JOE: *What did you say??*
     
In GP.

     JUN: Ken! The source of the signal is near here, around Cross
Karakoram!
     KEN: All right! I want a fast landing!
     RYU: What? In this fog?
     KEN: I know the danger, but Joe's waiting for us!
     RYU: All right, leave it to me! (something on viewscreen) There's
something strange coming in at us!
     JINPEI: What is it?
     KEN: It looks like a huge airport. Finally, we've reached Galactor
headquarters!

Inside Galactor HQ. Joe is laughing brokenly.

     KATSE: It looks like learning about our plans has snapped your mind.
     JOE: Oh, it's just great, Berg Katse. Even as your enemy, I have to
respect the depths your evil can go to...


Joe sags. Katse turns away.

     KATSE: Apparently the effect of the medicine is wearing off. Now all
that's left to you is an agonizing death!

Joe goes into action.

     KATSE: What's going on?? (a Galactor falls on him) Damn you! 

Joe throws a feather shuriken at Katse. Katse dodges, and it goes into the
Black Hole device.

     KATSE: I regret to inform you that I'm not one to be taken down by a
dead man! 

The shuriken goes into the mechanism. Katse is angry.

     KATSE: Shoot him while he can't move!

They shoot. Joe falls. (2)

     GAL (to Joe): How'd you like *that?* Next time I'll get you straight
in the heart!
     KATSE: Don't waste ammo. He's dead already, whether you shoot or not.
     GAL: Katse-sama! The God Phoenix is approaching!
     KATSE: What? How'd they find this place? (Katse looks at screen.)
They're here to stop us. Shoot them down with missiles!

Aboard GP. The landing gear is shot off, messing up their landing.

     KEN: Ryu! Abandon the God Phoenix! Let's get out of here!
     ALL: Roger!

On the ground.

     KEN: I don't know where the entrance is, but let's go!

They fall through a trap door, and encounter the two remaining members of
Red Impulse.

     MASAKE: Gatchaman! We've been waiting for you. It's me. Masake, and
Oniishi.
     KEN: The Red Impulse squad! Why are you here?
     MASAKE: We managed to locate this base, and we infiltrated.
     KEN: Oh. So it was you who called us.
     MASAKE: That's right. I sent you the signal. Your friend was captured
by Katse.
     JUN: Joe was--??
     KEN: Dammit! He was here all along!
     JINPEI: No wonder we couldn't find him.
     RYU: Is he all right?
     MASAKE: I don't know. We've no time. Hurry!

Katse watching viewscreen.

     KATSE: Dammit! I didn't know two of the Red Impulse squad had
infiltrated! Kill them! At once! Now that they've entered Galactor HQ, they
cannot be allowed to live!

The rooms are shifted. Masake et al arrive at the wrong location.

     MASAKE: That's strange. I could have sworn Joe was taken here.

Gunfire. Masake is killed instantly. Oniishi is fatally wounded. 

     KEN: Dammit! It's a trap!

They get to cover. Ryu examines Masake.

     RYU: It's no use. He was killed instantly.
     KEN: Masake!
     JUN: Ken! Oniishi's still alive. (Oniishi finger-spells on Jun's
wrist.) He's saying-- "I'm going to see the Captain. I leave the rest of
this to you... Goodbye, Science Ninja Team..."
     KEN: Show yourself, Berg Katse!
     KATSE: Have you finished saying goodbye, Science Ninja Team? Red
Impulse are destroyed. All there's left is to kill you! It's impossible to
stop our Black Hole Operation! Give it up, Science Ninja Team! (to
Galactors) Kill them!

The team throw Red Impulse's grenades onto the balconies.

     GAL: What's that?
     KATSE: Idiots! Hurry! Throw them back!
     GAL: But, but... // Hurry!

They explode.

     KATSE: I told you to throw them back!

Outside again.

     KEN: We mustn't let Red Impulse's death be in vain. Let's find the
entrance to their headquarters!

Inside, a rather battered Katse.

     KATSE: I'll capture all of you! Soon the whole Earth will obey me! And
you're trying to *stop* me??
     NARR: With the death of Red Impulse, Dr. Nambu and Director Anderson
have lost their last recourse. There is nothing anymore they can do. Condor
Joe is struggling against death. Can Gatchaman save the Earth from the
Black Hole Operation? Minute by minute, that counter is reading closer to
the destruction of the Earth.

Notes: General: Although the bulk of this was done with Osamu, several
factors (including the fact that the copy I made the first script from was
cut, and the fact that Osamu was not the most reliable translator in the
universe) conspired to force me to do several parts of it with a dictionary
and rewind button, all by myself. As a result, I cannot fully vouch for the
accuracy of everything.
     1. Or Select, or Selector. The Japanese are not consistent on what
they call this. Select is too obvious, and Selector has a false cognate in
Galactor (Selector is Se-re-ku-to-ru; Galactor is Gya-ra-ku-taa; so they
don't actually sound at all alike in Japanese), and so I choose to keep the
spelling Selectro, even though this may not be accurate in all cases.
     2. Despite the fact that, due to the obvious lack of blood, apparently
none of the bullets hit him. Normally machine gun fire would shred a human
body into so much pulp. The only logical explanation for this (Galactors
being lousy shots isn't sufficient, not at point-blank range) is that Joe
has low-level telekinesis, with which he deflected most of the bullets. The
actual explanation, of course, is brain death on the parts of the animators
and writers, but we like to pretend this show makes sense.Script: Gatchaman I #105      Earth's Destruction 0002

translated by Alara Rogers

Joe throws a shuriken at Katse.

     JOE: Katse!

Katse dodges and it goes into the machinery.

     KATSE: (laughs) Don't try to fight a lost battle, Condor Joe! 

Scenes of destruction.

     NARR: The final operation devised by Galactor's Overlord X is a
terrifying plot to destroy the Earth. The computers installed at Galactor
headquarters are governing the release of atomic bombs toward the core of
the Earth, 6500 kilometers beneath the surface, in order to cause a neutron
reaction.

At Cross Karakoram.

     KEN: Listen up! We've got to look for Joe and find the entrance to
this headquarters, as quickly as possible, no matter what it costs us! It
could be that this is the last time we'll see each other.        
     JUN: Ken!
     JINPEI: Aniki!
     KEN: Use the bracelet only if you've found something, and then for as
short a time as possible. Don't forget, they've got a radio net out to find
us. Go!
     
Inside.

     KATSE: People of the world! The Earth's fate has now been entrusted
into Galactor's hands. I will make you this promise: when I take sovereign
power over all the Earth, I will surely... um... somehow this doesn't sound
impressive enough. I should carry myself more like the emperor of all
Earth... Citizens of the Earth!
     GALS: Katse-sama! There's an emergency!
     KATSE: Katse-sama, there's a... *What??* What are you bothering me for
*now?*
     GALS: Condor Joe of the Science Ninja Team has escaped!
     KATSE: What the-- in his condition?
     JOE: {God Phoenix's here... I gotta.. tell Ken... where Galactor HQ
is... no matter what...}

He hears footsteps, and hides under the stairs. But when he crawls out, he
falls down several.      

     KATSE: Haven't you caught Condor Joe yet? He's going to try to contact
the Science Ninja Team!
     GAL: Yes, sir, but there's this thick fog and...
     KATSE: Idiot! That's to *our* advantage! Go out there and look for
them one by one, and as soon as you see them *kill* them!
     
Meanwhile, the destruction is continuing.

     NARR: The first symptoms of the neutron reaction are appearing on the
Earth's surface. The magma that flows underground is gradually increasing
in gravity, while the crust of the Earth is condensing and drawing closer
to the core.
     But the people have not yet been told the reason. ISO has delayed the
release of the facts.

At ISO.

     SCIENTIST 1: Denjinsho's erupted!
     SCIENTIST 2: That's sooner than the computer predicted. Maybe the
whole Earth will be consumed sooner than we think.
     ANDERSON: Dr. Nambu...
     NAMBU: Yes, Director?
     ANDERSON: Don't you think it's getting to be difficult to keep the
true situation under wraps? The inquiries from each country are getting
louder and more insistent...
     NAMBU: No! Please, don't reveal the true situation yet. All it would
do is cause  panic.
     ANDERSON: But, Dr. Nambu, even if we stay silent, sooner or later
Galactor will broadcast their demands for surrender to the entire world.
What do you think the people of the world will think then? 
     NAMBU: Most likely, they'll lose all faith in us... and the world will
end up ruled by Galactor.
     ANDERSON: It's horrifying. That's there's a plan to destroy the
Earth...
     NAMBU: They're certainly a horrifying opponent. Our research has
ascertained the theoretical existence of neutron reactions, but not how to
cause one. But Galactor-- or rather, Overlord X-- knows how. If these
reactions continue and set off a neutron reaction, the Earth will be
destroyed in instants. However, it's the Earth they *want.* They aren't
likely to destroy it. Before Berg Katse can set his plan in motion, the
Science Ninja Team will have slipped into his headquarters to strike him
down. Please have faith in them, Director, and wait.

At Cross Karakoram.

     GAL 1: Got them?
     GAL 2: Nope. They're on their guard-- they're not using their
bracelets. We haven't been able to catch any transmissions of theirs yet.

ground rumbles

     GAL 1: Again?...
     GAL 2: Are we really safe? I mean, are we going to be all right no
matter what happens?
     GAL 1: All we can do is trust what Katse-sama says... but if you want
to know the truth, I've been getting scared lately myself.
     OTHER GALACTORS: Over here! // Don't let them get away! 
     KEN: Shit! These men have to be coming out from *somewhere.* Where's
the entrance?
     GALACTORS: After them!! // Don't let them get away! // It's
Gatchaman!! // Don't let him escape!! 
     JOE: Gatchaman... Ken... where are you, Ken?... Have to... tell you
where... headquarters is... I... I have... KENNN!!!
     JUN: That voice--!!
     GALACTORS: Wh-- who are you? Are you a friend? 
     GAL: Over here!!
     RYU: *Shit!!* This one isn't it, either!
     GALS: What do you think *you're* doing?
     RYU: Bastards!
     GALS: Don't let him get away! Get'im!! 
     It's a woman!! Don't try to hide!! 
     Shoot at her bracelet!
     JUN: Joe! Joe!!
     JUN: Joe, hang on!!
     JOE: Jun... call Ken. Entrance to headquarters... 's here.
     JUN: This is G-3! Ken! I found Joe!
     GAL 1: Got it. That's their signal. 
     GAL 2: *Finally* we got to use that thing? We've been waiting so
patiently, it's about *time* we got results. 
     GAL 1: All right, tighten the net. We'll get them all.
     KEN: Joe, you--
     JOE: I know. Don't say any more. This is just... the way I've always
lived.
     KEN: You stupid bastard!! Why did you have to go off and do this? Why
didn't you say a single thing about it to us??
     JOE: Hahaha... are you going to lecture me to the very end?... Jun...
     JUN: Joe!
     JOE: Get together with Ken, get a relationship. Quit this dangerous
business as soon as you can, and get yourself... the happiness a girl
should have... Jinpei...
     JINPEI: What is it, Joe?
     JOE: Don't bug Jun by being selfish. You know, I've always envied the
two of you... you're just like a real brother and sister...
     JINPEI: I know. I know that... Oh, don't die, Joe!!
     JOE: Ryu...
     RYU: Joe--
     JOE: All I ever did was go against orders. I'm sorry... Finally I can
apologize...
     RYU: What-- what are you talking about, Joe? I'm not listening! If you
want to ap-apologize, you better get well an' let me slug you. If you
don't-- if you d-don't, I'm not listening to any apology!
     JOE: Now go! If you don't hurry... Katse'll start his plan...
     RYU: Ken!! I'll take Joe in the God Phoenix, all right?
     JUN: Ken!
     JINPEI: Aniki!
     RYU: Ken! Joe went through hell and back with us. Are you saying we
shouldn't do whatever we can for him now?...
     KEN: This is my order as leader of the Science Ninja Team! We leave
Condor Joe here, and all of the rest of us will invade Galactor
headquarters!
     ALL: What??
     KEN: Joe... forgive me. We swore to each other that we'd die
together... but now we have to abandon you. Take this boomerang, at least,
Joe. Hold it for, as a memory of my... of my feelings... 
     *STOP WHERE YOU ARE, GALACTOR!!* I don't expect you to understand how
we feel. But isn't this enough?? What good will it do to shed any more
blood? All you'll do is lose your family, be separated from your friends,
for *nothing!* If you want to get in our way, now of all times... well,
we're prepared to deal with you. If that's what you want then come on!
     RYU: That's it, Ken!
     GALS: After them!!
     The ground opens, and all the Galactors fall in.
     
Inside.

     KATSE: Wha-?
     KEN: Katse!!
     KATSE: Gatchaman!! You've managed to make it *this* far?
     KEN: Berg Katse, you must stop this! The Black Hole Operation must
cease *now!!*
     KATSE: Very well, then! If you will just surrender to me, right here
and now--
     KEN: KATSE! 

He begins to beat Katse up.

     KEN: Surrender to *you?* Who do you think you're *talking* to? Did you
think you could make the Earth yours? You bastard, did you really
underestimate us that badly? 

He punches the globe into Katse's stomach, so Katse falls on the floor with
the globe on top of him. 

     KEN: There you go! Now you've got the Earth in your grasp! Are you
satisfied? *KATSE!!* STAND UP!! 

Ken continues to beat Katse, ending by stepping on his face.

     KEN: Listen carefully, Berg Katse. Stop the Black Hole Operation
*now!!* Or would you rather I ended your worthless life?! *What will it be,
Berg Katse?*
     X: Go no further, Science Ninja Team!! 
     KEN: Overlord X! Where are you?
     KATSE: O- Overlord! Save me, *please!*
     
X appears, laughing.

     KEN: Overlord X.
     X: Don't waste your time, Science Ninja Team. My Black Hole Operation
is proceeding steadily. Look over there! That device is dropping atomic
bombs into the Earth's interior. According to my calculations, in 30
minutes the neutron reaction will occur-- and the Earth will be destroyed!
     KATSE: Overlord! You didn't-- that's not what you promised me!
Overlord, you said you would give the Earth to me...
     X: I *will* give the Earth to you... shattered to pieces, as dust in
space!
     KATSE: Overlord, have you been lying to me all this time?
     X: Katse, I was given certain orders, and so I came to Earth. But the
world I was to return to... has disappeared. 
     KEN: Selectro, a world in the Andromeda galaxy that disappeared
recently.
     X: I must return to Andromeda to learn why this has happened. But
before I do this, I'm going to destroy this world, just as my world was
destroyed, since I have no further use for it. I do feel sorry for you,
Katse... but the plans have changed.
     KATSE: Y-- you c-can't... O-- Overlord...
     X: Farewell, Katse. You served me well before today. I can thank you,
at least.
     KATSE: Overlord! *OVERLORD!!*

X takes off. Katse shouts the rest of this at its departing form.

     KATSE: Overlord! Why did you make me a mutant, then? If this was to be
my fate, I would rather have been a human... I would have been happier if
I'd been born as a human, Overlord X-sama!!
     JUN: Ken! This machine isn't stopping, whatever we do!!
     KEN: Everyone! Throw in all the bombs you're carrying! 

The machine doesn't stop.

     KEN: No good. If we interrupt one circuit, another takes its place.
     KATSE: (laughing hysterically, with tear-stained cheeks) Useless, it's
useless, Science Ninja Team!! You can't stop that machine! I trusted what
the Overlord told me, and I didn't put in a control mechanism at all, at
all... Die! Everyone, everything, die, *die!!*

Katse throws himself into the lava pit left by X's departure, screaming.

     KEN (softly): Katse...

More bombs drop. The feather shuriken inches its way through the mechanism.
Ken turns to the Black Hole device.

     KEN: All right! If I can just get inside, I ought to be able to do
*something!*
     JUN: Don't, Ken!
     KEN: Let me go! We have to do whatever we can! We're the Science Ninja
Team!
     JUN: Even if you get into the machine, you'll only be crushed between
the gears! If we're going to die, let us all die together! I can't bear the
idea of dying separate and alone, like your father, like Joe...
     KEN: Jun...
     JUN: Ken!
     KEN: Jun.

Joe's feather shuriken jams one of the gears. A bomb goes off inside the
machine before it's supposed to, and the device blows up.

     JINPEI: Aniki, the machine's stopped!
     RYU: Huh? Really?
     KEN: I don't know why, but it looks like one of the atomic bombs
exploded inside the mechanism.
     JUN: These bombs were designed to produce massive explosions when they
collided with the magma, so the explosion would have smashed the gears, and
so the whole thing stopped.
     RYU: Wow... we're all saved!
     JINPEI: The counter gauge says 0002. That was so close...
     RYU: 0002... 2? 2 was Joe's number.
     
Outside.

     RYU: Ooh, this is awful. Looks like we were the only ones that
survived. Watch your step, Jinpei.
     JINPEI: I know, already! Stop treating me like a kid all the time!
     RYU: Told you so.
     JINPEI: I just tripped on something. 

It's Ken's boomerang. Jinpei hands it to Ken, who doesn't take it.

     JINPEI: Aniki...
     NARR: Ken doesn't know. It was the feather shuriken Joe threw for
vengeance's sake that saved the Earth... 

At a press conference.
     
     NAMBU: The Science Ninja Team saw Overlord X flee Earth. At the same
time, many people saw a light leave from the midst of the Himalayan
mountains and head for the sky. Also, I have received a report from a
rocket in space, which says that several minutes later, they spotted a
thin, long pencil-shaped glowing object headed from the Earth's atmosphere
into space.
     REP: Dr. Nambu! Does that mean you're saying Overlord X was an alien?
     NAMBU: We don't know. Perhaps the glowing object we saw was a
spaceship with an alien inside... or perhaps the object itself was a
sentient, mobile being with a life of its own. Or, too, it could have been
a computer.
     REP: So then the Earth has been saved? We'll have peace now, won't we?
     NAMBU: We can't be sure of that, either. Galactor has certainly
destroyed itself-- but please, ladies and gentlemen, consider. Isn't there
an evil spirit like Galactor, hungering for destruction, lurking at the
back of your-- and our-- hearts?
     REP: Doctor, what are the Science Ninja Team doing now?

Nambu smiles and goes to the window, pulling aside the curtain so we can
see the GOD PHOENIX fly past.

     NAMBU: Today and every day, they are out flying to protect our peace.
     


