Nikholas F. Toledo Zu wrote:
This is great! I thought the first three parts moved a bit slow and were
somewhat predictable. This though, this just blows everything away. It
introduced about a bazillion plot threads and a whole lot of
possiblities. All of a sudden, I'm really excited about this story.
Chapter Four: Goddess For Hire
The title says it all.
blessings of heaven and earth. Another day in the life of those that
lived within the embrace that which is the earth.
Like said goddess cared for that right now.
A lone bird landed near the open window.
It chirped inquiringly at the goddess, wondering why she wasn't up.
No response.
It chirped. And chirped. And chirped.
Until....
"ALRIGHT!!!! I'M UP!!!!!"
The bird made one more chirp before it took off.
Bwa-ha-ha-ha!
said out loud. "With my genius and skill at all forms of engineering, I
could get ADP to hire me as an engineering consultant!" The young
goddess smiled something fierce. "I could even upgrade those piles of
junk they call power armor! With my help, ADP could take out those
annoying boomers that seemed to pop up every now and then to cause
havoc."
Hmmm. I wonder why she just doesn't go to Genom. After all, they
probably have the highest tech for her to play with. Well, the ADP can
cetainly use the help.
Another round of Kodachi-type laughter filled the morning air.
"I can't possibly lose in this!!!"
Famous last words.....
Young.
Definitely young for such a position. But who was complaining?
>From what he heard, Natsume Tendou held an excellent record. Skilled in
many more forms of martial arts than he could count or recognize and more
so with the use of a gun or any small firearm. There were even rumors
that she was also stronger than she looked.
I fail to see how that translates into qualifications to get her in this
position at such a young age. Ah well, maybe her family pulled some
strings.
Leon decided it best to believe that.
Quick eyes caught the luscious curves hidden by the severe getup
she wore. The slight heaving of her chest definitely proved how well
built she was.
He hid a small smile.
"Done undressing me with your eyes yet, Inspector McNichol?"
Natsume asked wryly.
I've noted a definite preoccupation with the sexiness of certain women in
this fic. What can I say? I LOVE IT!
Natsume burst out laughing.
Leon looked miffed but kept it at a minimal. Wouldn't want to ruin
the moment. After all, most of the time, the only thing that ever came
from this office was a curse and... well... more curses.
Gee, and Natsume seems so nice....
"My sister had just contacted me that she would be visiting me this
week and plans to stay here for the duration of her vacation. I would
like you to stick by her and make sure she doesn't cause any trouble
while she's around for the holidays." Leon started to protest, but she
Try-and-take-down-boomers-by-myself Leon is supposed to keep someone else
out of trouble? This I have to see! ^_^
cut him off with one overly disarming smile. "She is not a woman to be
taken lightly, Leon. And, besides, you really shouldn't worry all that
much. I've assigned one of our dispatchers... a redhead officer by the
name of Ms. Nene Romanova, to assist you in this little endeavor. I
heard she had some experience dealing with such matters."
Leon blinked.
Nene?!!
It wasn't really all that bad. Nene's a nice girl.
More like a sister, really.
What could be so special about Chief Tendou's sister? Most of the
time, that had been Nene's old job. So, why was he stuck babysitting the
chief's sister? A part of him asked why he wasn't even putting up a
token resistance.
*Women.* he thought sourly.
"I trust we will not have any further problems with this
assignment, Inspector McNichol?" Natsume asked, lips compressed in a
thin smile.
Honestly, Leon *should* have a problem with this. She isn't asking him
as a favor, she's basically ordering him to do it. A blatant abuse of
her power. Where's the policeman's union when you need it?
Natsume quickly pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Leon.
"That envelope contains a picture of my sister, plus some cash to
spend." Leon blinked at that. "If any problem should arise, just steer
my sister to the nearest sweet shop, ice cream parlor, or pastry shop."
Get the feeling Leon may be in over his head?
"My sister has a terrible weakness for sweets. Use this knowledge
well."
It's her version of Kryptonite.
"Are you nuts, Skuld?!" Mackie hissed at his companion.
Skuld appeared nonplussed by this. Not while she was eating away
at her third helping of ice cream. She decided to finish that helping
before answering.
Never ask Skuld if she's nuts while she's hopped up on ice cream.
Mackie winced, knowing all too well who she was talking about.
Much as he'd like a little help around the workshop, he couldn't risk it,
since, if his sister found out, she _just_ might get curious enough to
start taking some steps towards getting rid of Skuld.
Mackie was no fool.
He knew full well Sylia was capable of a bit more than she let the
other Knight Sabers know.
Not that it would work for Skuld.
But it would certainly force them to reveal something they both
felt no one else should know.
Better not to have to demonstrate the hard way that Skuld is immortal.
So Sylia has been showing the Kinght Sabers her 'gentle and caring side'?
was willing it to solve his problems. "If Genom finds out about you,
they'll want you on their side, making boomers and stuff like that!!"
"So?! I don't really mind. Think of what I could do to contribute
to you humans!"
A very astute piece of reasoning. I like it! It's about time a
character was shown to be willing to actually work for Genom. The people
in charge may be bad news, but neither a company nor technology can be of
themselves good or evil.
Mackie's jaw dropped.
He couldn't believe this!!!
Skuld noticed his reaction. "Huh? What's wrong, Mackie? Is it
bad if I helped you humans make a more efficient boomer that would not
malfunction or go insane or have any megalomaniac ideas and stuff??"
Mackie blinked.
"I dunno, Skuld. It still looks like you're taking a big risk
here."
I'm still not sure I understand why he's so concerned. Skuld _can_ take
care of herself. After all, God is on her side. ^_-
"But, why?" Natsume asked. "From your records, you could land a
far better job in Genom or any other corporation, for that matter."
Skuld nodded. "I know. But I felt that this is the place I would
like to work. You know, public service and stuff like that. Guess you
could say my family had been doing that for ages." Skuld smiled.
"Besides, I'm sure you guys could use a helping hand."
Skuld smiled some more.
A reasonable explanation.
Priss exalted in the freedom she felt whenever she drove her bike
through MegaTokyo's old highways. She had always been addicted to speed
Well, OK. We finally get to actually see one of the Knight Sabers.
(They have kind of nmoved out of the spotlight in this fic.)
getting some time off alone. Today was fast becoming a red letter day
for her career as a singer. Someone had actually offered to sign her up!
It was an opportunity for her to rise above her usual status as a retro
trash singer.
And she's due to retire in two days. She's bought a boat and is going to
sail it around the world. Now if she can just wrap up this last case....
Anyone else feel the shadow of impending doom?
Priss was little more than a mile or two out of city limits when a
black car roared out from the veil of the night and passed by her mere
inches away, before speeding back into the night from which it was
spawned.
A mysterious black car. Window dressing or portent of things to come?
Leon merely grunted and went back to reading the magazine.
Nene, wishing to do something other than get bored, got curious as
to what Leon was reading so intently, considering that she never thought
Leon to be interested in any form of reading material, unless it involved
women somehow.
"What'cha reading, Leon?"
Leon looked up. "Huh? Oh! Nothing really. Just something to
while away the time." He glanced at his watch. "Although, the plane
sure is late."
Nene stole a glance at the magazine.
She was surprised to learn what it was.
Well, what was it?! Come on, don't leave us hanging!
Leon smiled at the strange look he was receiving from Nene.
*Reminds me of my sister... uh-oh!*
That's twice now he's thought of Nene as a sister. I wonder where this
is going.
Shit! Curse, Argh! @#$%#@#$@!!! Kyoko is going to _kill_ me!!* Upon
further thought. *No! Make that, she'll turn my life a living hell and
stay for good!! What have I done in my past life to deserve having _her_
for a sister?!!!*
And somehow Nene reminds him of this woman he's so afraid of? I guess
the Nenester can get pretty viscous when it come to fighting over the
last few donuts in the squad room!
Somewhere high above, a somewhat stunned crowd of passengers
started at the mangled pile of metal that had once been an old-model
boomer. Nearby, a very insulted young woman with light brown hair,
wearing a sleeveless blue jacket over her somewhat more revealing tight
blouse and blue jeans, was busily tying back the ribbon she had to use on
the boomer that had been the hijackers' main weapon.
Boomers instilled fear in people.
All except to some few martial artists.
This is now officially a Ranma 1/2 crossover. I could let the names go,
but when martial artists start ripping apart boomers, you have to make it
official.
be. Keen eyes found no one that looked like her sister, Natsume.
She frowned.
"Wonder where Onee-chan is? She never was late for anything."
Seeing futility in trying to even locate her sister, she decided to
take a seat nearby where a very cute redheaded woman was idly riffling
through the pages of a magazine. For some reason, the redhead reminded
Sounds kind of inconsiderate of Natsume not to let Kurumi know she was
having someone else meet her.
her so much of an old acquaintance back then during the good old days
before the quake had hit.
Deciding it better to befriend someone while waiting for her sister
to arrive, she sat next to her and began a conversation.
"Hiya! Waiting for anyone special in particular?"
If I didn't know better, I'd swear that was.... nah, she's just being
friendly, right?
put behind them as best as they can. "Say, you sure you're not related
to the Romanofs?"
Who?
"You do realize, of course, that you are a whole half hour late,
Nii-chan?" a young violet-haired woman huffed, starring at her brother
through her wide-rimmed glasses.
Ah, now we see why Leon fears his sister. He may have the glasses of
coolness +5, but she has the classes of coolness +7!
luggage. Leon's little sister, while she looked rather unassuming, was
really an illusion she had perfected through time. From the way she
talked, dressed, and walked, one could never say she was England's most
famous model, part-time fashion designer and actress.
She slices, she dices, she's multi-talented!
Leon blinked. "Hey, Kyoko-chan. You sure you're okay? You're
acting way out of character."
Kyoko laughed. "Expect me to be _in_ character, as you call it, in
a little while." Kyoko turned to see her brother staring at her so,
I've never told someone they're 'out of character'. It's a darn strange
thing to say.
"You a cop?"
Nene nodded. "Well, kinda. I'm a communications expert in ADP.
Leon's the one who goes out into the field to play with boomers."
Her nose ought to be growing at this blatant lie. Yeah, she she *never*
goes out to fight boomers.
"Yeah. But you know how dangerous any place can be at any time.
Even more so when boomers are added to the equation." Nene sighed.
"There are times when I wish no one ever found out how to create those
things."
"All things considered, it could have been much worse." Kurumi
thought out loud.
"Huh?" Nene was confused. "What could be more dangerous than
boomers on a rampage? As far as I could recall, 75% of all deaths > are
boomer related. Only a mere 10% could be attributed to crime.
Everything else is mostly of natural causes."
I'm amazed no one has banned the things, with a fatality rate like that.
Genom might delay things, but there are limits to what people and
politicians will put up with, no matter how much you bribe or threaten.
Kurumi laughed. "Trust me. I've seen much worse. A _lot_ > worse."
This she kept mostly to herself.
Whoah. She's seen a lot worse? I'm dying to know exactly what that
might be.
Kurumi's smile turned wicked. In conspiratorial tones, "Ah...
you
seem to be having some boy trouble then."
Nene looked shocked. "No. It's not that. I'm not really
interested in getting myself a guy. Well, not all the time, but
finding
one is kinda way far down the list of my worries. I sometimes try to
pretend I'm enthusiastic about finding the man of my dreams, but
lately,
even pretending doesn't help much. I just am _not_ interested in guys
like some of my friends in dispatch." Nene smiled. "I'm not lonely
though. My friends keep me happy enough."
"You know, there is a word for that."
"Eeeeehhhhhh!!! No way! I'm that kind of girl!" Nene
protested.
Kurumi giggled. "Well, you did say you weren't too interested
in
guys. That normally leaves only a few options. Unless you want to
grow
up an old maid."
OK, lets take this step by step. Kurumi comes out of the airport
terminal, sees a cute redhead, and immediately sits beside her. She then
tries to strike up a conversation with what might be considered a pick-up
line. Now Nene says she really isn't interested in finding a boyfriend.
Are you hinting at something here?
I say go for it! With Mackie tangled up with Skuld (don't you love that
mental image) Nene's romantic life is free and clear for manipulation.
"Great. We'll start training once I get myself settled in my
sister's place."
"Huh?"
"Well, you want a figure like mine, right?" Nene nodded.
"Then
I'm going to give it to you. The only way it can be done. Martial
arts!!"
Nene being trained by a boomer-busting martial artist. It boggles the
mind, especially when you consider Linna would probably beg to be trained
by a fighter that skilled.
Nene moaned.
"Don't worry, Nene-chan! I can guarantee you - it'll be fun!!
Who
knows, maybe you got what it takes to perform some of the more exotic
styles."
Yeah, just give her a few months. Then, the next time Priss makes a
sarcastic remark.... "Boot to the head!"
Leon waved him off, saying they did not want any. Kyoko gazed at her
older brother, wondering if she was doing the right thing, telling him
of
the things that'd been happening to her for the past five years.
Major mystery in the offing here. I love it!
She had thought she'd buried everything about her past, even > going
so far as to try out that drug her best friend, Morrigan, had invented.
It was very effective in wiping out all traces of her past existence.
Is this a reference I should be getting?
"So, Kyoko, who's after you? Genom?"
Kyoko shook her head. "For once, Genom is not involved in
this."
Miracle of miracles!
"Who is it, then? Not to many megacorporations in the planet,
you
know."
What, it has to be a mega-corp?
"I... I don't know," Kyoko lied.
Telling him just _some_ of the truth is a good way to get him killed. If
Leon doesn't know who the bad guys are...
"What is so important that they want you, sis?"
"Janet, my roommate, left me something before she died.
Something
her science team had excavated in Antarctica. Something so very
deadly,
it had claimed the lives of everyone in the science team, including
Janet, who died shortly after she came home with it."
"Where is the item now, Kyoko?" Leon asked in an even voice.
Kyoko looked sadly at her brother, wondering if it was the
right
thing to do coming back here and involving her brother in something
like
this. No. The bastards had forced her into coming here. She had
little
choice.
"That item is me."
A dramatic note to end on! For some reason, this reminds me of the
X-files.
I hope to see Chapter 5 soon. Maybe all these plot threads will start to
converge.