Dopplegänger

[FelicityRedbarrow]

I'm really liking this. Good fanfiction is hard to come by!

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Dopplegänger

X.

About ten minutes later the crew of a police boat fished Kim Sankaku out of the Hudson river. He was brought into McClane's precinct in handcuffs under the guard of several FBI agents.

Special Agent Erskine grabbed McClane and pulled him aside. “This didn't go exactly as planned, did it?” He said with a dread look on his face. “That gold shipment is now at the bottom of the river, and the transfer is supposed to take place at noon today. If that gold isn't recovered it will spark an international incident!”

“Don't worry about that.” McClane said, crossing his fingers behind his back. “We've already got a team of divers working on recovering the gold.”

Astro flew uptown with Tojo and landed in the middle of central park not far from the carousel. “Where is Ochanomizu Hakase?” he asked with a stern look on his face.

“He isn't in any danger.” Tojo said. “My mother is guarding him.”

“Where?” Astro demanded.

“I'll give you the address if you take me there with you.” Tojo said.

“Agreed.” Astro replied.

The window to the penthouse apartment was forced open from the outside, and two figures entered the room through it. “Please put that gun down, mother!” Tojo said.

Hoshie turned to see her son and another version of him standing next to each other. One was dressed in dark clothing, wearing mirrored sunglasses. The other was nearly naked wearing only a pair of red boots and a pair of dark briefs topped by a green band. Both sported similar cowlicks at the same angle on their hair lines.
Hoshie handed the gun to Ochanomizu, who gave a sigh of relief. He looked at the weapon for a second and face palmed. It wasn't loaded.

“Tobio!” Ochanomizu exclaimed, spreading his arms out in greeting.

“Yes it's me, Godfather Elefun,” the boy laughed. “It's been a long time since I've laid eyes on you, hasn't it?”

“There's something I've got to go take care of” Astro said. “Will you be alright, Hakase?”

“I think so.” he said, turning to face his godson. “I'm going to have to call the police, Tobio. You do understand?”

“Yes, Godfather.” the boy said bowing his head.

Hoshie looked at the professor and at Astro. “What about Kim Sankaku?” She asked, with some fear in her voice.

“Not to worry about him, mother.” Tojo said. “I think the police should have fished him out of the river by now, and have him locked up. He won't be bothering us anymore.”

Astro dove beneath the murky waters of the Hudson river and lit his eye search lights. He remembered exactly where he had flown over the river when he dumped the contents of the truck. The gold bars were too heavy to drift much in the river current and he quickly spotted them. Astro made several trips from the river bottom to the police dive boat, dumping several hundred pounds of the bars onto the deck of the boat with each trip. After the last of the gold was recovered Astro waved at the astonished crew while swimming back to Manhattan island. Once he was out of sight of the boat, he flew towards the police precinct where inspector McClane was stationed.

McClane put his phone back into his pocket after hanging up. He turned to Erskine and smiled. “That was a call from the Hudson river dive crew. Every single gold bar as been found and the entire cargo is now en route back to the vault in an armored car.

“That was very quick work,” Erskine said. “I must give high marks for your dive crew.”

“I'd thank you for them, except that they didn't have much to do with the recovery of the gold.” McClane said. “The captain of the dive boat reported with some astonishment that a small child did all the work. From his description, it appears to have been Astro the robot.”

The door to McClane's office opened and a young officer walked in. “Inspector McClane, sir?” he said, “They told me downstairs to let you know that the boy and his mother were brought in, the Professor was with them.”

“Thank you.” McClane said, walking to the door. “I'm going to question them myself.”

By the time the inspector had made it downstairs to the booking desk, Astro had arrived.
“You two are facing serious charges.” he said, addressing Tobio and Hoshie.

“I don't believe she would have harmed me.” Ochanomize told the inspector. “She was being held between a rock and a hard place by Kim Sankaku. Besides the gun wasn't loaded.” The Professor added, handing the weapon to McClane.

“It's strange that Sankaku would have given her an unloaded gun to guard you with.” McClane wondered.

“That's not actually what happened,” Tobio said dumping the contents of his rear jeans pocket onto the table, producing about a half dozen 22 caliber cartridges. “I unloaded the weapon when he wasn't looking.”

“Look inspector,” Ochanomizu pleaded, “I know the boy has committed a few felonies, and his mother was involved with this gold caper, but it all ended well thanks to Asto.”

“Well the boy's lucky that museum haul was too hot to handle. We managed to recover all of it from the black market thanks to some inside connections.” McClane said. “I'll acknowledge that he did help with Sankaku's capture in a small way. But he's been involved in quite a few small street crimes and he's going to face charges for enough stuff to earn some serious jail time.”

“But what about his age?” Mustachio broke in.

“He'll be treated as a minor.” McClane acknowledged.

“Can I use your phone?” Ochanomizu asked. “I need to call overseas, I'll reverse the charges.”

“You'd better.” McClane laughed, pointing to the desk phone. “Dial 9, then 1 to get an outside line.”

Two officers entered the room and handcuffed Hoshie and Tobio, escorting them out of the room.
“Where are you taking them?” Ochanomizu asked.

“To the tombs.” One of the officers responded.

“That's the Department of justice lockup.” McClane said. “You can bail them out tomorrow, the boy and his mother will be New York City's guest for the evening.”

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Later back in their hotel room Astro and the Professor were talking with Mustachio.
“I feel bad for Tobio and Hoshie” Astro sighed. “It wasn't his fault, it was the accident.”

“I'm sure you're right, Astro.” Ochanomizu said. “If affected his mental state, but he seems to have returned to normal a bit.”

“Maybe seeing you again had something to do with it.” Mustachio told Ochanomizu.

“Perhaps so. When they kidnapped me and brought me to Kim Sankaku's penthouse both Hoshie and Tobio were there. Even though both had disguised their appearances, I knew who they were and I could tell they knew me.

“I wish there was something we could do for them.” Mustachio said.

“I tried calling the US embassy in Tokyo, and our embassy in Washington, but they refused to consider making any considerations.” The professor sighed. The boy and his mother will have to stand trial.”

“I have an idea, Hakase.” Astro smiled. “Can I make a long distance call?”

“I don't know who you think could help, but go ahead.” Ochanomizu said.

“Well it is a long shot.” Astro sighed, “But it might work.”

He picked up the phone and entered a long string of numbers. Ochanomizu and Mustachio shrugged their shoulders and left Astro alone. He was on the phone for almost an hour, before he hung up with a smirk on his face.

The bailiff escorted Hoshie and Tobio into the court room. Professor Ochanomizu and Astro were already standing by the judge's desk, along with Inspector McClane, and the federal prosecuting attorney.

“Would you mind translating for me, Astro?” Ochanomizu said, bending down and whispering. “My English might not be up to the task in a court of law.”

“Hai, Hakase.” Astro said.

The professor addressed the judge in his native Japanese, Astro repeated for him in English. “Your honor, we're here in the matter of bail for Hoshie and Tobio Tenma.”

The judge looked down at his paperwork and was about to make a statement, when two other individuals entered the courtroom.
“Your honor,” the taller of the two spoke up, “I'm Peter Farkus from the US State Department, and this gentlemen with me is Mr. Kunimitsu Tezuka with the Japanese embassy. I'm glad we were able to get here in time.”

“I take it your appearance here has something to do with this case?” The judge asked.

“Yes, your honor.” Farkus said. “We received a request from the Japanese government requesting that a Hoshie Tenma and her son Tobio be returned to Japan. They are asking we drop charges under diplomatic immunity.”

“This sounds highly unusual,” the federal attorney said.

Mr. Farkus handed the judge an official document, which the judge read.
“It seems that my hands are tied.” The judge said. “This document orders the deportation of a Hoshie and Tobio Tenma, they are to leave this country immedialty and return to their native Japan! They are to be remanded to the custody of a Professor Ochanomizu until they are out of the territory of the United States.”

“Your Honor!” The federal attorney cried, “I must protest!”

“I'm sorry Mr. Federal Prosecutor, but this order comes from the oval office and has the president's signature on it!” the judge replied, banging his gavel on the bench.

Hoshie and Tobio had their handcuffs removed and exited the courtroom with Astro and the professor.

“Just who did you call last night?” Ochanomizu asked Astro.

“Oh, my good friend Hisahito - Kun,” Astro laughed. “I guess he spoke to his grandfather!”

Ochanomizu face palmed. “You're good friends with the Emperor's grandson?”

“Oh sure!” Astro laughed. “We play Shogi every other weekend. I usually let him beat me.”


Several weeks later the Professor had a visitor in his office. Hoshie walked in, accompanied by Astro who had brought her.
“Ohayō, Ochanomizu Hakase” Hoshie said with a slight bow.

“Ohayō, Hoshie-san,” the professor replied. “How are you and Tobio doing?”

“Very well, thanks to you.” Hoshie smiled. “Dr. Black Jack has been treating Tobio. He had suffered an undiagnosed brain injury do to his accident, and Sensai's treatment has restored his good nature.”

“How are you doing with your new employment?”

“Very well, Hakase.” Hoshie smiled. “I can't thank you enough for recommending me.”

“Nonsense, it was actually Mustachio's idea.” Ochanomizu said. “He knew of an opening in the school system for an assistant teacher and you were more than qualified.”

Hoshie looked up at the clock above the professor's desk. “Oh my look at the time. I'll be late picking up my son from the clinic.”

“I'll get you there in time, Hahaoya” Astro said.

“You don't have to call me that.” Hoshie said embarrassed.

“I can't help it.” Astro sighed. “You are the closest thing I have to a mother.”
Astro walked out of the building with Hoshie. A few minutes later, the professor thought he saw the vapor trail of Astro's leg jets in front of the clouds. “Guess he's giving Hoshie a ride.” Ochanomizu thought.

The professor opened his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a framed picture he'd left in there for a few years. It had been an image of Tobio, Hoshie and Umataro together, only the photo had been cut down with a pair of scissors and Dr. Tenma was missing. The professor opened the frame removed the photograph. He reached for the framed photo of Astro and himself that was on the desk and removed the photo from the frame. Carefully he cut it down and then taped the two photographs together, trimming them so they would fit in one frame. He looked at his handiwork with approval and set the frame back on his desk.
“Now that's the way it should have always been.” He thought happily.

The End

[Umbral-Coltwings]

What a great ending to a great story!

[AstroBlaster1998]

Loved the ending. Thank you very much for the many great stories you have brought to us. They are always the greatest .

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Thank you both for your appreciation. If you follow the link in my signature you can find other stories I've posted on fan fiction over the past two years or so. More to come!

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

I've edited the story a bit and posted it up on Fan Fiction:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11155400/1/Doppleg%C3%A4nger