Christmas in the Shadows
HYPERLINK "mailto:chronic1@2xtreme.net" / 在影像中的聖誕節
"Come on, Toochan!" Ryu's voice bellowed from outside the trailer. "How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to--" / "發生 ,Toochan"! Ryu's 的聲音怒吼從外面追蹤者。 " 如何許多次做我必須告訴你你不必須--"
"Then why don't you listen when I ask? I knew I should have had the doctor check you for hearing problems...." / " 然後為什麼當我問的時候，不你聽? 我認識我應該要為聽問題讓醫生檢查你的...."
Ken straightened his collar and stared at himself in the trailer mirror as the arguing voices came closer. Not quite willing to face the silence of his airfield in the wake of the Kagaku Ninjatai's final battle with Galactor, Ken had moved in with Ryu and his father to help rebuild Ryu's marina. The Nakanishis roared through an argument a day, but they always quieted down once they came indoors. Good thing, too; the fifth wheel trailer Mr. Nakanishi had rented was bigger than anything Ken had ever seen on wheels, but even it wouldn't withstand the force of these two men in full debate. / 當爭論聲音來的時候，肯恩弄直了他的衣領而且盯著他自己看在追蹤者中鏡子比較靠近的。 不是相當樂意隨著和 Galactor 的 Kagaku Ninjatai's 的最後戰爭之後面對他的飛機場的沈默,肯恩已經以 Ryu 和他的父親搬進幫助再建 Ryu's 的散步道。 一旦他們來在戶內， Nakanishis 吼過一個爭論一天，但是他們總是靜止下來。 好事物,也; 第五個輪子追蹤者 Nakanishi 先生已經租用是比任何事更大肯恩曾經已經在輪子上看到,但是甚至它將不抵抗完全的辯論這二位男人的力量。
The door came open, and Ryu stepped in first, rubbing his hands in the warmth of the indoors. He stopped and smiled when he caught sight of Ken. "Ah yeah, your date's tonight. You're leaving so early?" / 門來開放的, 而且 Ryu 踏在首先, 在溫暖方面擦他的手那在戶內。 當他瞥見肯恩的時候，他停止而且微笑。 " 啊是的,你日期的今晚。 你正在離開如此的早?"
Ken turned away from the mirror and gave him a grin. "It's Christmas Eve, isn't it? I rented a car since I don't want to fly in that mess." One hand gestured to the window and the sullen gray clouds outside. Not without the G1, anyway, he added silently. / 肯恩轉向遠離鏡子而且給予了他露齒笑。 " 它是聖誕夜, 它不是? 因為我不想要在那雜亂中飛，我租用了一輛汽車。"一隻手外面作手勢到窗戶和慍怒的灰色雲。 不是沒有 G1 ，無論如何，他默默地增加。
"Yeah, looks like rain," said Mr. Nakanishi. "Maybe snow." / "是的,看起來像雨一樣",Nakanishi 先生說。 "也許下雪水於" 。
"Naah, it won't snow here. Say hi to Jun for me," Ryu said, then slapped a friendly hand on Ken's shoulder as he passed on the way to the kitchen. "You look good. She should be dazzled." "I feel like a fish out of water," Ken muttered, pulling on his overcoat. Ryu chuckled. / "Naah,它將不在這裡下雪水於。 發言權嗨到六月為我,"Ryu 說,當他在前往廚房的途中通過，然後拍擊了在肯恩的肩上一隻友好的手。 "你看起來很好。 她應該被眼花。""我無法水",肯恩喃喃自語,在他的外套大衣上拉。 Ryu 吃吃的笑。
Ken opened the front door, which was framed with holiday greeting cards from neighbors, and stepped outside. After a month, the grounds were just beginning to look like a marina again. Tidal waves from Galactor's Black Hole Operation had turned boats, piers and walkways into scrap wood, and only half of Ryu's tiny boathouse remained. Ken had helped remove the wrecked boats and rebuild two new piers, and now a few customers who'd survived the disaster were tying their boats here for the winter. / 肯恩從鄰居用假日賀卡打開前門 , 被構成, 而且外面踏。 在一個月之後，理由再一次正在僅僅開始看起來像一個散步道一樣。 來自 Galactor's 的黑色洞手術的海嘯已經將船，碼頭和走道變成小片木材，而且只有一半的 Ryu's 的極小船庫保持。 肯恩已經幫助除去被破壞的船而且再建二座新的碼頭，而且現在繼續生存災禍的一些消費者 who'd 正在為冬天綁他們的船這裡。
The sky was darkening past sunset as Ken drove up a winding mountain highway along the coast toward Utoland's city lights. By the time he reached city limits, night had fallen, concealing the clutter of reconstruction that claimed half the city. Someone had wrapped the surviving trees in white lights, forming tall lacy sculptures on either side of the main thoroughfare, and when he turned onto the street where Jun's snack bar was, he found someone had done the same to the smaller saplings planted on the sides of the street. A single candle glowed in the snack's front window. Ken left the car parked at the curb and walked in, pausing to grimace at his reflection in the door. His carefully combed hair had sprung rebelliously back to its natural state during the drive. He thought he looked like a penguin wearing a haystack. / 天空是弄暗如肯恩越過日落沿著對於 Utoland's 的城市光的海岸在一條捲山公路上面開車。 當他到達了城市限制的時候,夜晚已經落下,隱藏宣稱了一半的城市重建的混雜。 某人已經包裝白色的光繼續生存樹,形成在主要的通路任一邊上的高絲帶的雕刻, 而且當他在街道之上轉向在哪裡六月小吃酒吧是,他發現他已經做對在街道的邊上被種植的較小樹苗的一樣。 一根單一蠟燭在小吃的前面窗戶中發紅光。 被留下汽車的肯恩在抑制停車而且走入, 暫停在門的他反映扮鬼臉。 他的梳頭髮小心的頭髮已經在駕車的時候造反地向後地對它的自然州跳。 他想他看起來像一隻穿著乾草堆 的企鵝一樣。
The snack was open and half full of customers; Jinpei must have someone to help him with the bar tonight. Tinsel garlands and strings of colored lights hung near the ceiling and Christmas carols played over the snack's speakers. Jinpei sported a red Santa hat behind the bar. / 小吃是開放的和一半的充滿消費者; Jinpei 一定要有某人今晚幫他解決酒吧。 用金箔裝飾花環，而且線的有顏色的裝飾燈在天花板的附近吊，而且聖誕頌歌在小吃的說者之上玩。 Jinpei 在獄中遊戲了一個紅色的聖誕老人帽子。
"Aniki! Hey!" Jinpei waved at him. "You look good! Oneechan'll be down in a minute. Did you hear on the news? We might get snow tonight--a real white Christmas!" / "Aniki! 嗨!"Jinpei 在他揮舞。 "你看起來很好! Oneechan'll 在分鐘中是下來。 你在新聞上聽到嗎? 我們可能今晚得到雪--一個真正的白色聖誕節!"
"Yeah." Ken glanced around the snack. "I'm surprised you don't have a date tonight," he said, leaning on the bar. / "是的". 肯恩在小吃的周圍瞥閃。 "我感到驚訝你今晚沒有一個日期",他說,倚靠酒吧。
"Don't rub it in." Jinpei sighed. "All my school friends are with their families. I've already gone to a couple of parties with them, though, and since you're gonna be here tomorrow, we'll exchange presents then." / " 不要擦它在". Jinpei 歎息。 "我所有的學校朋友和他們的家庭在一起。 但是,我和他們已經去一些黨了，而且因為你明天將要在這裡,我們當時將交換禮物。"
"What makes you think I'm going to be here tomorrow?" When Jinpei wiggled his eyebrows and grinned, Ken snorted and shoved the red cap over the boy's eyes. "Smartass. We're meeting at the mansion with Hakase tomorrow. Besides, what makes you think I've got a present for you?" / " 什麼使你認為我明天將要在這裡"? 當 Jinpei 躊躇了他的眉毛而且露齒而笑的時候,肯恩噴著氣弄響鼻子而且推擠了在男孩的眼睛上的紅色無邊帽。 "Smartass。 我們正在明天在和 Hakase 的大廈見面。 此外, 什麼使你認為我已經為你得到一個禮物?"
"Hey!" / "嗨"!
The door opened and Jun walked in. Ken straightened and swallowed at the sight of her. She wore a close-fitting red dress and had put up her hair, exposing a slender white neck as graceful as her namesake's. A tiny diamond pendant gleamed at her throat. She carried her coat over one arm. She paused when she first saw Ken, then walked toward him with a smile. / 門打開，而且六月走入。 肯恩一看見她弄直而且吞。 她穿著了一件緊身的紅色服裝並且已經搭起她的頭髮,像她的同名人一樣的優美暴露一個苗條的白色脖子。 一個極小的鑽石垂飾在她的咽喉閃爍。 她攜帶了她的超過一的外套手臂。 她暫停當她這個第一個鋸子肯恩, 然後對於他被一個微笑走路。
"Wow," Ken said. / "哇",肯恩說。
"She's been shopping for this for weeks," Jinpei murmured to Ken, leaning close over the bar. "You'd better like it or I'm never gonna hear the end of it." / " 她為這已經購物長達數個星期之久",Jinpei 對肯恩低語,傾斜在酒吧上的結束。 "你最好喜歡它，否則我從不將要聽到它的結束" 。
"I heard that." Jun slapped the boy on the wrist. / "我聽到了那" 。 六月拍擊了在手腕上的男孩。
"I, uh." Ken took her coat from her arm and helped her into it. By this time, several of the customers had turned to watch, and a few were staring at Jun. As gracefully as he could, he offered his arm to her and pulled open the door. Leaning his head close, he said, "Jun, you look incredible." / "我,uh". 肯恩進入它之內帶了來自她的手臂她外套而且幫助了她。 在這時候，一些消費者已經準備看, 和一些正在盯著六月看。 當做優美地當做他可以,他提供到給她而且拉開放的門。 傾斜他的頭結束,他說,"六月,你看起來難以置信".
"You're not just saying that?" She arched an eyebrow at him. / "你不只是敘述那"? 弓形的在他一道眉毛的她。
"No. I mean, you're always beautiful, but--" His cheeks reddened and he grimaced at how ridiculous he sounded. "You should be in the movies or in the magazines. You look gorgeous." / " 號碼我意謂, 你總是很美麗,但是--" 他的頰變紅，而且他扮鬼臉在如何荒謬的他聽。 "你應該是在電影或雜誌中。 你看起來華麗。"
Her eyes probed his for a moment, and then she smiled. / 她的眼睛探查他的一會兒，然後她微笑。
Ken took Jun to an elegant Italian restaurant downtown. In the candlelight, they toasted the evening and made small talk through dinner, dessert and coffee. Other young couples filled the restaurant, celebrating what had become a romantic tradition, but Ken caught the occasional glance of admiration or envy from the passersby. Not that he could blame them. Jun appeared oblivious to the attention, her gaze focused on Ken. / 肯恩將六月帶到一家優雅的義大利餐廳市中心區。 在燭火中，他們經過晚餐，甜點和咖啡敬酒了晚上而且作了小的談話。 其他的年輕夫婦裝滿了餐廳，已經變得浪漫的傳統慶祝，但是肯恩捕捉了來自 passersby 的讚賞或羨慕的偶然一瞥。 不那他可以責備他們。 六月對注意顯得易忘的,她注視把重心集中在肯恩。
"You clean up pretty nicely yourself," Jun said, reaching across the table and taking his hand. "Odd how I've seen you in so many guises, and yet this is one I have the hardest time getting used to." / "你漂亮的很好地清掃你自己",六月說,越過桌子到達而且帶他的手。 " 奇數的我如何已經在這麼多方式中看到你，而且仍然這是我有習慣於 的苦頭一個".
"I've been thinking the same thing all evening," Ken said. "Though tonight reminds me of that time you wound up modeling for Caridon a few years back." / "我已經整晚上想相同的事物",肯恩說。 " 那次今晚雖然使我想起你結束為 Caridon 仿製數年背面".
"You remember that?" Jun asked, and Ken nodded. "I thought you'd been so bored during that mission." / "你記得那"? 六月問，而且肯恩點頭。 "我想你已經是如此的無趣在任務的時候以致於" 。
"I was bored until we ran across those Devil Stars. I don't care for fashion shows, but I'll never forget seeing you on the catwalk." Ken could feel his whole face growing hot. He was awful at this. They'd practically lived together for years and she'd seen him at his worst, especially those first months after Joe's funeral. Still, he felt so vulnerable here without even the Gatchaman's characteristic cool to save him. Jun's eyes gleamed in the candlelight. / "我是無趣的直到我們偶然發現那些魔鬼星。 我不照顧流行表演，但是我將從不忘記已經在狹小甬道上看見你。"肯恩可以感覺他的增加熱 的整個臉。 對這他是可怕的。 他們實際地已經一起居住長達數年之久，而且她已經在他的最壞看到他,尤其喬的葬禮後那些第一個數個月。 使, 安靜他不需要甚至 Gatchaman's 的特性就在這裡覺得如此易受傷害冷卻解救他。 六月的眼睛在燭火中閃爍。
"You always surprise me. That's one thing I like about you, Ken. I mean, this date, this place." / "你總是使我吃驚。 那是我關於你喜歡的一件事物，肯恩。 我這日期意謂這一個地方。"
Ken shifted in his seat. "We're all full of surprises, aren't we? All these years we've worked so closely together and still we have so many secrets. I didn't know Ryu did construction until we started working on his marina. He's good at it." / 肯恩在他的座位中改變。 "我們全部充滿意外, 我們不是? 整這些數年我們已經一起工作如此的嚴密和劇照我們有這麼多秘密。 我沒有知道， Ryu 做了建築直到我們開始處理他的散步道。 他擅長它。"
Jun lowered her eyes. "It's a handy skill to have in this world." / 六月降低了她的眼睛。 "它是便利的技術有在這一個世界中" 。
"I guess I have to confess. Jinpei found this place for me. It's no secret that he knows all the best spots in town." / " 我猜測我必須承認。 Jinpei 為我發現這一個地方。 沒有秘密是他知道在城鎮中所有的最好地點。"
Jun might have laughed, but she only smiled with a look of what Ken thought might be relief. When she caught the answering expression on his face, though, she did laugh softly. Ken joined in. / 六月應該可以笑, 但是她只以神情肯恩想的微笑可能是安心。 當她引起了在他的臉上回答表達的時候,雖然，她柔和地做了笑。 肯恩加入。
When the check arrived, Ken swallowed hard and slipped his card into the folder with only the quickest glance at the total. / 當支票到達的時候,肯恩在總數努力地吞而且以只有最快的一瞥滑倒他的卡片進文件夾之內。
"Seriously, Ken, it's okay?" / "嚴重地,肯恩, 它是好"?
"My Christmas present to you," he said, and smiled. "Though there's more to come." / "我的聖誕呈現給你",他說, 而且微笑。 "雖然那裡更多來" 。
They left the restaurant and walked together along the street. Jun held Ken's arm tightly and pressed against him as they walked. She couldn't tell where he was leading her, but let him go, happy with the walk itself. The outside temperature had dropped, but she warmed where she touched him. / 他們沿著街道離開了餐廳而且一起走路。 當他們走路的時候，六月緊緊地捉住了肯恩的手臂而且對抗他壓進。 她不可以告訴他是領導的她, 但是讓他去的地方, 快樂的由於散步本身。 外面的溫度已經降低，但是她變溫暖了她碰了他的地方。
Finally he stopped at an unfamiliar entrance and held the door open for her. Inside, a young man took their coats, and beyond she could see the desk of a concierge. A hotel? Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed as she glanced up at Ken, who was handing something to the bellboy. Excitement warred with outrage. Could this truly be what he had in mind? How dare he, with no warning at all? / 最後他在一個不熟悉的入口停止而且為她拿著了門公開。 內部,一個年輕的男人帶了他們的外套, 和超過她可以看見看門人的書桌。 一間旅館? 她的眼睛擴大，而且當她瞥閃的時候，她的頰臉發紅在肯恩，而且這一個肯恩正在把某事交給侍者上面。 刺激對抗暴行的戰爭。 這可以真實地是他所認為的嗎? 如何敢他, 藉由沒有警告究竟 ?
"I hope you didn't find out about this place from Jinpei," she said, an edge to her voice. / "我希望，你沒有發現來自 Jinpei 的這一個地方",她說,她的聲音邊緣。
Ken turned to her. "I still have a few mysteries left in me," he said. "I think you'll like this." He tugged gently on her arm, but she hesitated, staring at him with her brow furrowed. Was this really Ken, or has someone replaced him? Was this a joke? Should she stop this game right now or trust him and let him lead the way? / 肯恩求助於她。 "我仍然留在一些秘密我",他說。 "我認為你將喜歡這" 。 他逐漸地在她的手臂上用力拉，但是她猶豫,以她的被犁眉毛盯著他看。 這真的是肯恩,或某人替換他了嗎嗎? 這是一個笑話嗎? 她應該立刻停止這一場比賽或信賴他而且讓他帶領方法嗎?
She chose to follow. Ken took her through the lobby, past the concierge and to a hallway of polished marble. He walked quickly, nervously, glancing back at her when she lagged behind. At the end of the hallway, a man waited beside a double door, and he opened it as they approached. Jun's breath caught. / 她選擇跟隨。 肯恩經過大廳帶了她, 越過看門人和到擦亮的大理石的一個走廊。 他走路得很快,神經緊張地, 向後地在她瞥閃當她落後的時候後面。 在走廊結束的時候，當他們接近的時候，一個男人在一個兩邊開的門旁邊等候，而且他打開了它。 六月的呼吸捕捉。
She found herself staring at a ballroom with glass walls and ceiling opening onto a lacy forest of oak trees outlined in white lights. More lights graced the potted greenery inside. The entire room glittered. Couples dotted the polished wood floor, slow-dancing as the live band played "White Christmas." She turned to Ken with wide eyes. / 她發現她自己在橡樹的絲帶森林之上盯著有玻璃牆壁和天花板的一個舞廳開始看在白色的光中概略說明。 更多的光優雅了裡面的盆栽綠葉。 整個的房間燦爛。 有點的擦亮木材地板的夫婦,減慢-如被演奏 "白色的聖誕節" 的活樂團的舞蹈. 她求助於有寬眼睛的肯恩。
"Surprised?" / 使? 吃驚
"Ken, I--yes, I am." She followed him inside and onto the dance floor. "It's beautiful." / "肯恩,我--是的, 我是". 她跟隨了裡面的他和在跳舞地板之上。 " 它很美麗" 。
"This is the Crystal Palace. They finished refurbishing the ballroom just in time for Christmas." Ken half closed his eyes. "Joe told me about this place. He said if I ever had a date I wanted to impress...." / "這是水晶的王宮。 他們為聖誕節及時僅僅再磨光舞廳完。"肯恩一半地關閉了他的眼睛。 "喬告訴我關於這一個地方。 他說是否我曾經有了我想要感動的一個日期...."
Jun pulled him closer and leaned her head on his shoulder, and they swayed until the number finished. "I never said thank you for the past few months," Ken said. / 六月拉了他比較靠近的而且倚靠了在他的肩上她頭,而且他們搖動直到數字完成。 " 我從不說謝謝你過去幾個月",肯恩說。
"It's all right," she whispered. "I miss him too. I think he'd be glad you took his advice." "I didn't do this just because of him." / "它是沒關係 ",她耳語。 "我也想念他。 我認為，他將會很高興你採取了他的忠告。""我因為他沒有僅僅做這。"
She held him tighter. "I know." / 她更緊緊地捉住了他。 "我知道" 。
They didn't speak much after that. With his natural grace and a bit of training to enable the team to fit in during formal parties, Ken was an accomplished dancer, but he had never shown any interest in this kind of dancing. Jun preferred rock music, but as they moved lightly across the floor, she wouldn't have traded the moment for all of her wildest parties put together. They were two birds in flight, surrounded by swirling stars. And then Ken reached down and kissed her. / 他們在那之後沒有多說。 藉由他的自然優雅和一點在正式的黨期間教育使小組能夠適合,肯恩是完成的舞者，但是他從未顯示對這種舞蹈的任何興趣。 六月偏愛了搖滾音樂，但是當他們輕輕的移動橫過地板的時候,她不會為所有的被集合的她最野性的黨交易片刻。 他們是飛行的二隻鳥,藉由搖晃星包圍。 然後肯恩伸手拿下而且吻了她。
Ken had been courting Jun since their post-war vacation to Iropa. He had first kissed her beside the fountains at the Champs Elysees, shocking her to the core. This time, she tingled with the sensation of his lips gently touching hers, almost tentatively. When he drew back, she returned the kiss, lingering, and she felt the tense muscles in his shoulders relax. Ken maneuvered them beneath a grove of potted trees, and they kissed again, deeply this time, while the tiny white lights whirled outside their hiding place. / 肯恩已經自從他們的戰後假期以後到 Iropa 追求六月。 他首先已經在選手巴黎的法國總統官邸在泉旁邊吻她, 令人震驚的她到核心。 這次，她以他的唇感覺逐漸地興奮碰觸她的,幾乎試驗性地。 當他倒退的時候,她被歸還吻,逗留, 而且她感覺他的肩緊張的肌肉放鬆。 肯恩 maneuvered 他們在盆栽的樹小樹林之下，而且他們再一次吻,這次深深地，當極小的白色光在他們藏地方之外旋轉的時候。
At midnight, the first few flakes of snow drifted down over the city of Utoland. / 在午夜，很少的雪薄片的第一個下來遍及 Utoland 的城市漂流。

Waves pounded the rocks below the cliff, and above, the night sky was an inverted bowl sprinkled with bright stars. Joe sat back, propping himself on his hands, and tipped his head back. On an island surrounded by cold black ocean and open sky, he felt disconnected and alien; perfectly fitting given his situation. / 波浪在懸崖 , 和上方下面強烈打擊了岩石,夜晚天空是與明亮的星一起灑的一個被反轉的碗。 喬袖手旁觀,在他的手上支撐他自己, 而且把他的頭提示回來。 在一個被寒冷的黑色大海和開放的天空包圍的島上，他覺得分離的和外國; 非常適宜給他的情形。
He had spent most of his Christmas Eve in rehab, trying to gain control over his rebellious, hypersensitive cybernetics. Even after six weeks of training, he crushed things or smashed through things, often bruising himself badly in the process because he had yet to gain control over the armor that covered his skin. Only the steady stream of smarmy holiday specials over the satellite television and the Christmas carols playing in Dr. Rafael's lab had reminded him of the holiday. Rafael had offered to take him to Mass, but he'd refused, uncomfortable with the idea of dealing with outsiders in his current state. Besides, the interior of a church brought forth too many harsh memories now. / 他已經花費修復的設施他聖誕夜的大部分, 嘗試得到對他的造反, 感覺過敏的換控學的控制。 甚至在六個星期的訓練之後，他壓破了事物或粉碎過事物, 時常在程序中嚴重地打傷他自己因為他還沒有得到對涵蓋了他的皮膚盔甲的控制。 只有令人厭煩的假日穩定的水流特別的在人造衛星電視和在 Rafael's 博士實驗室中玩 的聖誕頌歌之上已經使他想起假日。 Rafael 已經表示帶他集合,但是他有拒絕, 不舒服的有想法為處理他的現在州局外人。 此外，教堂的內部現在往前帶太多粗糙的記憶。
Joe leaned forward, picked up a rock and hurled it toward the sea. It arced into the darkness and disappeared. As a family on the run, his parents had taken the time to attend a Christmas service, exchange small gifts and toast the day, but they often hadn't been able to do much else. He could recall maybe one traditional Christmas, when he was five. His grandparents on his mother's side, two aunts, two uncles and three cousins all stayed at his house. They were somewhere in Iropa, and it had snowed. Joe remembered shaking the branches of trees outside until an avalanche of snow had dumped on him; helping his father untangle a snarled wad of Christmas lights; a table groaning with food, and a giant stuffed dog he'd found waiting for him under the tree. / 向前地被倚靠的喬,對於海洋拾起一塊岩石而且用力投擲它。 它 arced 進入黑暗之內而且消失。 如一個家庭逃跑，他的父母已經花時候參加一個聖誕節服務, 交換小的禮物而且敬酒那天，但是他們時常不已經能夠做更加別的。 當他是五的時候他可以也許取消一個傳統的聖誕節。 在他的母親身邊，二位伯母，二位叔叔和三個堂兄弟姊妹上的他祖父或祖母全部待在他的房子。 他們某處在 Iropa 中，而且它已經下雪水於。 被記得已經外面搖動樹的樹枝直到雪的一個雪崩的喬已經在他之上傾卸; 幫助他的父親解開糾結聖誕節的一個被吼叫的填料光; 一張以食物 , 和一個被裝填他將會在樹之下發現等候他的狗巨人呻吟 的桌子。
After the deaths of Joe's parents, Dr. Nambu had tried to establish a Christmas routine for his two adopted boys, and by the time Ryu had joined, they'd set up the tradition of gifts on Christmas morning. Employees at the ISO often brought in goodies: sugar cookies and cakes as well as the traditional Christmas cake shaped like a Yule log. When Jun and Jinpei joined the team, Christmas became a celebration of family as the five youngsters huddled together, desperate for common ground. Jinpei would always mark off the days starting at the end of November. / 在喬的父母死亡之後， Nambu 博士已經嘗試為他的二個被收養的男孩建立一個聖誕節例行公事, 和被時間 Ryu 已經參加,他們在聖誕節早晨將會建立禮物的傳統。 職員在國際標準組織時常引進身份低微之老婦: 餅乾和蛋糕和被成形的傳統聖誕節蛋糕喜歡一個耶穌聖誕節的糖伐木。 當六月和 Jinpei 參加了小組的時候, 聖誕節變成家庭的慶祝當五個年青人一起推擠,對於普通的地面是絕望的。 Jinpei 將會總是在十一月底走開標示那每天出發。
When the war began in earnest and the team officially became the Kagaku Ninjatai, there was no more time to celebrate. The first year they had managed to decorate a tree and exchange gifts, but the second Christmas had been twisted into something monstrous when the Galactors started handing children poison gas bombs in bright wrapping paper. The third had seen the entire team exhausted, more interested in sleep than celebration. The fourth was now, and the team celebrated without him. / 當戰爭認真地開始，而且小組正式地變成 Kagaku Ninjatai 的時候,沒有更多的時間慶祝。 當 Galactors 開始傳遞孩子毒藥瓦斯明亮的包裝紙紙的炸彈時候，他們已經設法裝飾一棵樹的第一年和交換賦予，但是第二個聖誕節進入巨大的東西之內已經被擰。 第三個已經看到被用盡的整個小組,更在睡眠方面超過慶祝感興趣。 第四個是現在，而且小組沒有他慶祝。
At last, he struggled to his feet, taking a moment to focus on easing the armor that had stiffened in his legs because of the cold. He walked through the ruins of the abandoned fishing village and decended into Rafael's hidden complex. Once back in his quarters, he settled on the bed, clicking on the projection TV that took up the opposite wall. Here he had two hundred satellite channels, displaying holiday programs in twelve different languages. He grimaced as he flipped through them. "The Twelfth Reindeer." "The Bird that Saved Christmas." "The Year that Forgot Christmas." "The Chipmunk that Saved Santa," and what seemed like six hundred renditions of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." For crying out loud. "What is the meaning of Christmas anyway?" whined a child's voice on one channel. The program that followed would serenade the audience on how Christmas was a time for joy and love and giving and caring and celebration, and it worshipped either the birth of the Christian savior or a fat, bearded guy in a red suit. Joe clicked a few more channels. If you listened to the commercials, it was the perfect time for overeating, overspending and having a nervous breakdown. Or, Joe thought as he got up and headed for the shower, It's just another day on the calendar that has too much damned baggage. / 最後，他努力到他的腳, 花一些時間把重心集中在緩和已經因為感冒在他的腿中堅硬的盔甲。 他進入 Rafael's 的隱藏合成物之內走路過墮落的釣魚毀滅村莊和 decended 。 一次在他的四分之一中回,他在床上安頓,在著手進行相反的牆壁發射電視上按。 在這裡他有了二百個人造衛星頻道,以十二種不同的語言顯示假日計畫。 當他用指頭彈過他們的時候，他扮鬼臉。 "第十二的馴鹿". "節省了聖誕節的鳥". "忘記了聖誕節的年". "解救了聖誕老人的金花鼠", 和什麼似乎 Dickens' 的相似六百個翻譯 " 一個聖誕頌歌". 為高聲地大叫。 "無論如何聖誕節的意義是什麼"? 發出嗚嗚聲了在一個頻道上的孩子聲音。 跟隨的計畫將會唱小夜曲聽眾在聖誕節如何是歡喜的時間和愛之上而且給和關心和慶祝, 而且它參加禮拜或基督的救助者或一脂肪的出生，紅色的訴訟有鬚的傢伙。 喬按了再過幾頻道。 如果你聽商業者的話, 它是完美的吃過量，過度使用和有一個神經衰弱的時間。 或,當他起床而且去陣雨的時候，喬想,現在在太多已經詛咒行李的日曆上是老套的日子。
He closed the bathroom door and turned on the water. On the television, the string of commercials ended and the cable news returned. "In world headline news," said the announcer, "Tonight is the night most countries choose for celebration. And fitting to this celebration, reports are in that for the first time in recorded news history, there is not a single military conflict occurring tonight in the civilized world. From the United Nations annex in Utoland, here is correspondent Robert Boggs." / 他關閉了浴室門而且打開水。 在電視上, 線商業的結束而且電纜新聞歸還。 " 在世界頭條新聞中",說了廣播員 ",今晚是大多數的國家為慶祝選擇的夜晚。 而且適宜的對這慶祝，報告第一次在記錄的新聞中是在那歷史,今晚沒有一個單一軍事衝突在文明的世界中發生。 從聯合國在 Utoland 中併吞,這裡是通訊記者羅勃特 Boggs 。"
"Thank you, Michael," said the correspondent. "This is the season for making wishes come true, and for the past several decades, people of all ages, in all parts of the world have wished for peace on earth. And for the first time, it appears this wish has been granted. Many of the UN dignitaries are home with their families, but here with me is ISO President Anderson. President Anderson, to what do you attribute this period of peace, and how long do you feel it will continue?" / "謝謝你,麥可",通訊記者說。 "這是製造希望的季節在實現, 和過去一些十年，有各種不同的年齡人,在所有的世界部份中已經在地球上期望和平。 而且第一次，看來這一個希望已經被允許。 許多聯合國顯要和他們的家庭在家，但是這裡由於我是國際標準組織總統安德遜。 總統安德遜, 到你歸於和平的這一個時期什麼，而且你感覺多久它將繼續?"
"Well," Anderson said slowly. "As for the cause, I attribute it to the common enemy we all faced in Galactor and the awesome destruction brought about by the Syndicate's final plan. It appears the world's nations have united against this single enemy." / "嗯" ，安德遜說得慢慢。 "關於因素，我對普通的敵人歸於它我們全部在 Galactor 和被企業聯合的結局計劃引起的有威嚴的破壞方面面對。 看來世界的國家已經統一對抗這個單身的敵人。"
Abruptly the water in the bathroom shut off, the door opened, and Joe charged, dripping, into the room. He stared at the screen with wide eyes, taking in Anderson's familiar face, hearing that familiar voice. / 突然地水在浴室中關閉,進入房間之內門打開，而且喬指控,足可滴水地。 他盯著有寬的眼睛螢幕看,接受安德遜的熟悉臉，聽那種熟悉的聲音。
"But that has not prevented conflicts in the past," said the correspondent. / " 但是過去沒有避免衝突",通訊記者說。
"True, but then, we never faced the results of anything as destructive as the Black Hole Operation. I believe this peace will last for as long as we remain involved in repairing the damage and we remember how grateful we are for our survival. I certainly hope our memories last." "I hope mine don't," Joe muttered. / "真實的,但是然後，我們從不像黑色的洞手術一樣的毀滅性面對了任何事的結果。 我相信，這和平將持續，因為只要我們在修理損害方面保持有關，而且我們記得如何感謝的我們是給我們的生存。 我確定地最後希望我們的記憶。"" 我希望我的不",喬喃喃自語。
"Thank you, Mr. President." The camera pulled back to reveal the night lights of Utoland City and the brilliant Christmas tree in the middle of the UN square. Snowflakes drifted into the light of the camera. "Celebrating this day of peace on earth, this has been--" / "謝謝你,總統先生". 相機向後地拉顯示聯合國廣場的中央 Utoland 城市的夜晚光和燦爛的聖誕樹。 雪片進入相機的光之內漂流。 "慶祝在地球方面的這天和平, 這是--"
Joe shook his head at the screen. Surely they couldn't be serious. No doubt, somewhere safely hidden from the media, there were two clans firing arrows at each other because someone had stolen a few too many goats. Or some guerrilla group planning to steal its opponent's supplies during the rebuilding. Joe wished the channel had offered current news on the team, but the Kagaku Ninjatai had successfully dodged the media since before he'd first awakened in Rafael's lab. / 喬在螢幕搖頭。 當然他們不可能是嚴重的。 無疑地,某處安全地從媒體藏, 有對彼此開火箭 的二個氏族因為某人已經偷一些太多山羊。 或在那個再建期間的計劃偷它的對手補給 的一些游擊隊團體。 喬願，頻道已經提供在小組上的現在新聞，但是 Kagaku Ninjatai 成功地已經避開媒體自從在他有首先在 Rafael's 的實驗室中喚醒之前以後
How would the team spend this holiday? Maybe they'd meet at Nambu's for dinner and an exchange of small gifts. Would they buy a tree, skip it altogether, or would Ryu try to cut one down from the acre of ISO property surrounding the mansion? Security would love that. Maybe they'd toast this temporary respite. They deserved it. Closing his eyes, Joe imagined his old teammates at the table at Nambu's mansion; Jinpei and Ryu shoving each other and joking, Jun trying to keep order, and Ken staring into his wine glass, pensive over any of a dozen mysterious things. If he'd been there, Joe might have teased Ken about the romantic Christmas Eve he was missing with Jun, then wait to see which of the couple responded first. / 這假日小組如何將會花費? 也許他們將會為晚餐和小的禮物交換在 Nambu's 見面。 將會他們買一棵樹,全部跳越它, 或 Ryu 將會試著減少嗎一下來從圍住大廈 的國際標準組織財產的英畝? 安全將會愛那。 也許他們將會敬酒這個暫時的延期。 他們該得到了它。 關閉他的眼睛,喬在 Nambu's 的大廈桌子想像他的舊隊友; Jinpei 和推 的 Ryu 彼此而且開玩笑, 六月嘗試保存次序 , 和進入他的酒杯之內注視 的肯恩, 沈思的在十二個神秘的事物之中的任何一個之上。 在那裡假如他是, 喬應該可以欺負關於他正在以六月失去的浪漫聖誕夜的肯恩, 然後等候看見哪夫婦首先回應。
If his friends could sleep one night thinking there was nothing to fight; if shopping headaches and holiday plans were the worst they had to face, then let that be their gift this year. They deserved it. If Dr. Rafael lived up to his promises, maybe Joe could help them prolong it. / 如果他的朋友可以睡覺一個夜晚想沒有東西對抗; 如果購物頭痛和假日計劃是他們必須面對的最壞, 然後讓那今年是他們的禮物。 他們該得到了它。 如果 Rafael 博士實行他的承諾,也許喬可以幫助他們延長它。
Joe returned to the bathroom and finished his shower, then switched off an expose on holiday shopping before turning out the lights. / 喬回到浴室而且完成了他的陣雨, 然後切斷一在假日暴露在把光關掉之前購物。

- End - / - 結束 -

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