WW asked me to post this to list since I originally only sent it to
r.a.a.s - can't remember if I'd joined the list at the time.
There have been some cleanups performed on this composite version :
several mis-smellings corrected
missing worms inserted
chapter two has been changed from 3rd person to 1st person
all the footnotes are together rather than scattered throughout
all unnecessary "End of ..." etc removed.
So without further ado (or if you want further ado call your hardware store
but it's only available if you're over 18 :)
No, I haven't been taking lessons off Bert, he's innocent of that charge.
Read it and enjoy? / weep?
<--- Begin include --->
Bubblegum Crisis
****
The Tempest Chronicles I
****
(c) Robin Smith 1995
Bubblegum Crisis is copyright Armtic,
Youmex and Toshimichi Suzuki.
Other copyrights belong to their respective holders.
=========
Chapter 1.0 - Author's Prologue
-----------
[WARNING] Author babble ahead.
This is the first fanfic I've written, in fact it's the first
*anything* I've written, so please bear with me.
The ideas for this were initially scribbled down some in January 1995
and were left to fester in the pile of papers on my desk. In April I
started writing it up, but owing to my *slow* output rate the initial
concept got overtaken by Tokyo Babylon and I think Mark has done a much
better job than this humble effort.
I've emailed Mark about the large degree of commonality between our
respective stories using the same ingredients and he will have had
chance to preview this before it gets released to net at large.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There now follow some comments from Mark Latus (mlatus@willow.mvsu.ca)
writer of "Tokyo Babylon".
Thanks Robin for the opportunity to add a pre release comment.
I don't in any way think this is a case of plagarism.
Given the established background of Crisis stories concerning the
enhancement of Sylia and Mackie are a natural.
And if you want to do a Crisis story without conflicting with the OAV's
and before Crash when else would it happen than after Scoop Chase.
Besides in both our cases the initial story is a setup for the second.
I expect our stories to diverge wildly when you do
"Tempest Chronicles II" and I do "Knights' End" which I'll be writing
after I finish my current Ranma fanfic.
Enough of this shameless self promotion.
Ladies and Gentlemen read and enjoy.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Chapter numbers are purely for my reference, so I don't get lost.
This is envisaged to take place right after "Scoop Chase" (8), however
a large number of events predate "Touchdown" (1).
Timeline to which I worked
--------------------------
*1959 Birth of Tempest
1983 Birth of Katsuhiro Stingray
**1988 Tempest's first visit to Japan
**1992 Tempest in Japan again
1993 Birth of Nene's mother
Tempest "disappears"
**2004 Dr. Stingray joins Genom
**2008 Dr. Stingray marries
2010 Birth of Sylia Stingray
2012 Birth of Linna Yamazaki
2013 Birth of Prissilla S Asigiri
2014 Birth of Nene Romanova
2015 Birth of Mackie Stingray
**2018 Death of Mrs Stingray
2020 First Buma produced
2022 Death of Dr. Stingray
2024 Construction of Genom Tower begun
2025 Second great Kanto earthquake
2027 AD Police formed
AD Police Files Episode 1 (The Phantom Woman)
2030 Hardsuits completed
2031 'Birth' of the Knight Sabers.
Grand Mal set here as well.
2032 BGCrisis Episode 1 (Touchdown)
USSD build Cynthia
2033 BGCrisis Episode 8 (Scoop Chase)
Nene's mum is 40
** "The Tempest Chronicles" revealed
2034 BGCrash Episode 1 (Illegal Army)
* and ** : Additions for "The Tempest Chronicles"
* True date of birth of "Tempest"
If I have any of the dates wrong, sorry you'll have to live with it.
Non Standard Characters (surname last)
-----------------------
Horoshi Oshima - Fujiko's father
Fujiko Oshima - not telling, read the story
Yasha Stingray - not telling, read the story
Boris Stengovich - Yasha's friend in Russia
Marvin - Tempest's computer AI
Troy Tempest - A character from the UK TV program 'Stingray'
(is there a joke here ? - maybe :)
Also the author in disguise.
My thanks to
The Almighty UF crew - damn it, you guys got me into this mess
Gryphon (Hopelessly Lost, Ronin)
Zoner (Hopelessly Lost)
Glenn Hough (Crusade) <<< Where are you now Glenn ? >>>
John Biles (RanmaPunk2033)
Darren Steffler (Twisted Path)
Larry Mann (Experiment101, Reunions)
Ryan Matthews (Lord Robin, Game Eternal, Reunions)
Shawn Hagen (Anima)
Celia Stingray (Tokyo Epoch)
Bert Van Vliet (BGC Zone)
Mark Latus (Tokyo Babylon)
and many more who have kept me reading when I should have been doing
other things :)
Written to the music of :
BGC (naturally), Kiki, Giant Robo, Laputa, Lupin 3,
Porco Rosso, Captain Harlock, Nausicaa, Akira, Totoro,
Riding Bean, VP Miyu, Only Yesterday, Laputa, Nadia,
The Prisoner, Mission Impossible
using the vi clone 'elvis' (thank you Steve Kirkendall).
It never crossed my mind when I began watching anime that I'd ever
write a fanfic, I'd never even heard the term before. More seasoned
writers may wince at the style and the gramatical errors but then I
only just scraped through English at school and writing was very far
from my thoughts.
Proof read by Dawn (just in time for breakfast).
Who is the idiot writing this infernal drivel you ask :
My real name is Robin Smith, I'm a 36 year old computer support
operator with a twisted/macabre sense of humour who's still living
out his childhood - it's more fun and cheaper that way !
If you find my sense of humour (please return it at once) somewhat
different then you've probably not experienced the Goons (a unique
brand of sillyness from the 1950s/60s by Spike Milligan, Peter
Sellers, Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine and others).
As Mark Latus sagely observed the Goon Show humour is not obvious,
which is probably most fortunate for everyone, as the story is
supposed to be reasonably sensible.
You are cordially invited to send comments, constructive critisism,
cash, anime tapes and/or praise to
mackie@ktsabers.demon.co.uk <- yup that's my real address
we're not all locked up yet folks !
Flames will be redirected to /dev/boiler or /dev/null
All spelling mistakes are the result of a deranged keyboard,
a drunken cat and general incompetance/lazyness.
If you want to meet the fool who wrote this infernal drivel then
a) You're probably as crazy as me
b) You'll need to ....
[BLATANT CONVENTION PLUG WARNING]
Come to RecontanimeTed 1995
on 3rd November - 5th November
venue The Grand Hotel,
Colmore Row,
Birmingham,
United Kingdom.
<End of Part 1.0>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Robin Smith 1995 mackie@ktsabers.demon.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bubblegum Crisis
****
The Tempest Chronicles I
****
(c) Robin Smith 1995
Bubblegum Crisis is copyright Armtic,
Youmex and Toshimichi Suzuki.
Other copyrights belong to their respective holders.
=========
Chapter 1.1
-----------
In the early hours of one Friday morning when Nene was on the night
shift she was idly scanning through various reports when something
caught her eye. Normally she would have not thought twice about the
injury of a man in a traffic incident, but he was not Japanese and
besides Nene was pretty sure this was a name she'd heard Sylia speak
of in connection with her father. Since there was little or nothing
else happening and the bumas seemed to be taking a night off for a
change, Nene decided to generate some interest of her own.
After about twenty minutes she'd come up with a 'small' anomaly, a
serious discrepancy between sources. The information she'd got the
Tokyo databases showed the subject to be aged 35 and the photographs
also seemd to confirm this, however Nene being the inquisitive sort
had also gone and extracted data from computer archives in the
subjects home country. Two of these databases gave the date of birth
as 1959. This was 2033 and if the subject was born in 1959 then he'd
now be 74, what was going on here ?
Nene looked around her, still nothing was happening to warrant her
attention so she decided to pursue the topic further, after all she
needed something to amuse her at one o'clock in the morning. The
fingerprints checked out at all sources, so seeing a DNA sample had
been taken she cross checked this and was not entirely suprised when
again all the databases agreed this was the same person. However this
last enquiry turned up another reference to a UK government
department, 'Hmm this could get interesting' Nene thought.
Never one to back down from a challenge to her computer skills, Nene
pressed on and after another twenty minutes work she'd 'liberated' an
encrypted file from deep within the UK military databases. After
making sure she'd erased all her tracks throughly, Nene downloaded
it to one of the optical discs she kept with her for just such
occasions and slipped it into her bag.
Little else came along to arouse her attention and when her shift
finished at 2am she rode home and after parking her scooter she
initially considered attacking the file she'd downloaded. However the
boredom of the last two hours had taken its toll, she decided sleep
would be the better option and set her alarm for 10am.
The incessant bleeping woke Nene at the second attempt and after a
slow start she showered, dressed and ate a small slice of cake that
was looking lonely in the refridgerator. She retreived the disc
from her bag, went to her computer and made several attempts to
decrypt the file's contents, after about hour Nene concluded that
this was beyond her own setup and something larger would needed. The
thought crossed her mind that Sylia may want a look at the
information since she'd spoken of the subject in relation to her
father, so she called Sylia and gave her a brief summary.
At eleven o'clock Nene parked her scooter and entered Lady 633. Not
seeing Sylia about she wandered over to the underwear dept., picked
out a couple of pairs of panties and whilst paying whispered
"Get Sylia down here.
I've got something she'll be interested in".
Unfortunately for Nene there were now four customers waiting to pay
so Mackie had to come up with some method of getting Sylia down and
Nene into the back. As Nene's card was passed through the scanner he
touched a hidden button which sounded a small alarm.
"I'm sorry miss there's a problem with your card.
I'll have to call the manager."
He picked up the phone.
"Hello, I have a small problem here.
Yes the card is registering a fault.
You'll come down ?
Thank you.
If you'd wait here please miss, the manager will see you shortly."
Nene visibly tensed and her face flushed bright red.
"Humph, you'll hear of this later and be sorry." she retorted.
A short time later Sylia stepped from behind the curtain,
"If you'll come this way please."
She led Nene into a back room.
Once out of view and earshot of other customers. Nene now more than
a bit annoyed by Mackie's method of fetching Sylia, shouted
"Damn it Sylia, that was embarassing in front all those people,
they'll think I'm some sort of credit fraudster!"
"I'm sorry Nene, I'll have a word with Mackie about this later and
make sure there's better way for next time. Come on up and tell me
what you found over a some tea."
Nene calmed down a little, whilst Sylia was making a coffee for
herself and some tea for Nene. Once they were both comfortable Nene
began to relate the story.
"Well as I said when I phoned you, the name seemed familiar, so with
nothing else happening I went digging."
"You're sure about the name ?" Sylia asked as she lit a cigarette.
"Yes, Troy Tempest, after all it is somewhat unusual."
"Hmm, well that's true." Sylia said after drawing a breath more
sharply than usual.
'Aha, I was right' thought Nene.
"Anyway then I found the age discrepancy and that's definately odd.
The fingerprints matched and since a DNA sample was available I
cross checked the databases, that's when the link to that UK
government department came up."
Nene paused to sip her tea.
"Strange, I wonder how they missed that one ?" mused Sylia.
"Well it was only the departmental name, but when the department
seemed to never have officially existed I got very interested and
after quite a bit of work I found the departmental records but there
was only one with any reference to Tempest, a copy of which is now
on this disc."
Nene said as she extracted the disc from her bag.
"However it is heavily encrypted and my home computer isn't powerful
enough to ..."
"So you want to know if you can use mine to break it ?" Sylia
interjected.
"Well you seemed quite interested when I phoned and ...."
"That's alright Nene, you're correct, I am interested, go ahead.
I'll be down in the shop 'managing' Mackie after what he did.
Please call me when you've got something."
Nene brightened up, "Ohh kay."
About four o'clock Nene was making serious progress, the encryption
was very good but the advances in computers and Nene's talent were
taking their toll and finally just after quarter past five a
triumphant shout drifted out of Sylia's computer room. Nene dumped
the information to printer, saved the data back to optical disc and
rang for Sylia who was just closing up the shop below.
Fifteen minutes later Mackie came quietly in,
"I'm sorry Nene-san ..." his voice trailed off.
'Nene-san ?' thought Nene, looked up from the document and noticed
Mackie looked a bit upset, 'Sylia must have chewed him a bit'.
"It was very embarassing in front of all those people." as she said
this her face flushed red again.
"Sorry, I.. I couldn't think of anything else on the spur of moment."
"I don't know what would happen if anyone at ADP finds out. Thank you
for the apology."
Nene couldn't stay angry with Mackie, after all he was only 19 years
old, as was she, though not many people knew that.
Sylia came up just after this accompanied by Linna and Priss.
Seeing the printout in Nene's hands,
"Have you read it ?"
Nene looked a little sheepish, "er.., well yes I did".
Priss and Linna smiled.
"What does it say ?"
"Well it is the same person as reported in the traffic incident, but
he was born in 1959 !" Nene exclaimed.
"But didn't you say the documents give his age as 35 and that the
photographs agree with that ?" Sylia queried.
"You're trying to say that a 74 old man only looks 35 ?" said Priss
"Get real !".
"Now that's some trick." muttered Linna.
"It's not just looks, I've accessed the hospital records since he was
admitted after the accident and they show he has the body of a man
in his mid thirties." Nene countered.
"Also he's being discharged on Wednesday."
"Ok well let's just skip the medical details for a moment, what else
does this file tell us about Tempest ?" asked Sylia.
Nene paused for a sip of tea and then continued,
"Real name unspecified.
Code name Phones
Born United Kingdom in 1959.
Typical school record, names erased though.
Assorted qualifications.
Parents died in an air crash.
Two younger brothers, both deceased.
No other known living relatives.
No criminal record, not even a speeding ticket!
Never married.
Here's a strange thing, he's shown as starting to work for this
government agency in 1980 but he's got other employers listed as
well during the time he's working for the agency.
He's shown as a 'field operative' and there are several countries
listed with dates."
"Sounds like a government spy or agent to me."
"Yes that would be very likely given the source of the file and
the details listed Mackie" Sylia stated,
"Please continue Nene."
"Hmm, there's lots more entries about countries visited, although
Russia seems to feature more than most. There isn't anything to say
what he did on each job though, guess that's buried elsewhere. He
has picked up several wounds though, so I may be able to get another
confirmation about his ID from those.
Ahh, now there's an entry for 1993 with him shown as missing.
Then the last one lists him as dead on 12-11-93 ..."
Nene checked some more notes.
"Then three years later Troy Tempest shows up on Japanese records."
"Quite an interesting fellow this Troy Tempest"
"What's so interesting about an old English spy Sylia ?
How do we know it's the same person ?
He doesn't work for Genom does he ?"
"The answers to your second and third questions Priss are
DNA and fingerprint match,
No, he doesn't work for Genom as far we know.
The answer to the first question may suprise you though,
He was a good friend of my father."
"So how did little miss cyberpunk here track him down ?"
"Nene'd heard me mention the name. It being somewhat unusual, when
she saw it in the accident report she went digging, for which I'm
grateful".
"Are 'we' going to visit him Sylia ?"
"Not yet Linna, I'll get some more information about him, now I he is
still about. After all why didn't he help Mackie and I after father's
death ?" Sylia stated without any sign of emotion when talking of
her father's death.
"Do you think he could be a buma like Meison/Largo sis ?"
"Unlikely I think Mackie, as he was involved with our father before
bumas were around and unless he's with Genom he probably wouldn't
have access to the necessary equipment and funding."
"Anyone else got any thoughts ?"
"Perhaps 'Pops' knows him"
"Possibly Priss, I have our 'source' check out the background as to
why he's resurfaced after all this time."
Nene was the last to leave after the meeting broke up and as she
picked up her bag and helmet she heard a brief snatch of Sylia on the
phone "... job for you, meet me in ..."
Chapter 1.2
-----------
Sylia briefed Fargo on the 'job' in one of the seedy downtown bars
that he seemd to favour.
"When are you going to get some fresh clothes, those are decidely way
past their best you know."
"That they may be, but they suit the places I have to go. I don't
want to stand out from the crowd, getting noticed isn't always good
for one's health."
Sylia handed Fargo a disc,
"The full details are on here. The subject would appear to shun the
limelight, let me know when you've got something and we'll discuss
the fee."
She finished her drink, stubbed out the cigarette, got up, left the
bar and walked down the two streets to where she'd parked the
Mercedes.
On Monday Nene was back on the day shift, which she prefered, as most
buma incidents occured at night which meant she didn't have to make
excuses to leave. During the quiet moments at ADP, of which there
seemed more recently, she ran checks on Tempest and didn't find
anything that would indicate a link back to Genom. She did manage to
get some details from the hospital scans and one the scars was
mentioned, which tied up with the data file she'd got.
'Looks like this is the same guy' she thought.
Tempest discharged himself on Wednesday afternoon as expected and
after briefly going back to his apartment, he promptly faded out of
sight as though he'd never been around.
On Friday evening they all met at the offices above Lady 633, where
Sylia outlined what had been found out about Tempest.
"This what we now know about Tempest :
He worked with my father and probably with my grandfather as well.
He was an active British agent of some sort, but until we speak with
him there's no futher information.
As far as anyone can determine he is not involved with Genom."
"Do we know where he is Sylia ?"
"It seems his apartment is used only as stop over Linna, he's rarely
been there in the whole of the time he's been living in Japan. Our
source has his current location pinpointed, so I propose we pay him
a 'social call'. Nene's done a preliminary scan of the location and
it looks safe enough. So I'll go in with Linna, Priss you act as
backup and Nene will handle all the surveilance from Knightwing,
Mackie of course will be piloting."
"What's the plan if shooting starts ?"
"Well should it come to that then, first off disable him and try to
take him alive, if that's not possible then ..." Sylia's voice
trailed off and everyone knew what she meant.
"I hope it doesn't have to come to that.
No more questions ?, right let's go 'interview' Tempest."
The ride to the site was uneventful and short as the location of
Tempest was about midway between the old lab (where Dr Stingray was
killed) and the hideout that Vision used during her fight with Genom.
Mackie set the KnightWing down silently on the roof of a building
that overlooked Tempest's hideout. Sylia and Linna dropped down the
opposite side of the building and began to walk slowly round, whilst
Priss took up a position where she had an unobstructed view of
Tempest's hideout. Nene was inside Knightwing running intensive scans
of the area as the preliminary results had shown nothing.
"Blue, we're just coming round the corner, anything to report ?"
"All clear White"
"Red, anything showing ?"
"All scans show clear White. No wait, I've a faint trace of
something, enhancing .."
Nene's fingers danced rapidly over the keyboard as she saught the
gain better detail.
"Looks like a low grade buma, probably a service model, damn it he's
got some good shielding."
"Probably why he's remained unoticed" Sylia murmed.
"Red, any signs of other exits ?"
"There's a couple of tunnels leading towards the old subway tunnels
but all appear to be blocked by falls."
"Ok let's go in through the front."
Sylia and Linna marched calmly upto the front entrance, pushed open
the door which wasn't locked, and stepped into a dingy hall. The
lights weren't on and didn't look capable of working either judging
by their condition. There was a thick carpet of dust, rubble and
assorted junk littering the hall but with the use of sensors in their
suits helmets they could see a faint trail that led towards the
second door on the left.
Linna noted that their feet didn't seem to disturb the dust as they
followed the trail.
"Notice how the dust isn't being disturbed as we walk ?"
Sylia extended a small sensor boom and called Nene.
"Red, what do you make of this ?"
"Hang on a sec ...., got it, it's a holograph, the floor is clean."
Whilst Nene had been running her analysis, Sylia had gently nudged a
lump of rubble with her toe and it moved !
"No I don't think so Red, I've just moved a lump of rubble"
"Make that an intelligent holograph then White. Must be capable of
detecting the change and responding accordingly."
"Then why no foot prints ?"
"Guess you'll have to ask your host, he's just about to open the door
in front of you."
The door slid back to one side to reveal a bare footed thirty
something man wearing shorts, a t-shirt, spectacles, holding a
tumbler with ice cubes that clinked gently against the side. He was
also smiling slightly.
"Good evening ladies, what warrants this intrusion into my privacy ?
I must say you do seem to be overdressed for the occasion, is it
really so dangerous out there that armoured suits are necessary ?"
Sylia and Linna were momentarily stunned, Sylia recovered her voice
first and spoke.
"Red, you getting this ?"
"Loud and clear White"
Sylia turned on the external speaker after activating the voice
scrambler.
"Well you never know what you may find around these parts, I take it
you are Troy Tempest ?"
"Yes I am he, but you needn't have turned on the speaker, I'm not
deaf"
"You mean ..."
"Well if your young friend up there ..."
I motioned up towards the top of the building where the KnightWing
was parked.
"can tap into other communications channels then surely it can't be
beyond the bounds of possibility that someone else can also do so,
can it ?"
"Now please come in, if that is your desire, I always find discussing
things at the front door so impolite and besides the neighbours
aren't always friendly."
Linna turned towards Sylia, "Well what next ?"
Sylia looked into the room where Tempest had gone, again it looked in
much the same state as the hallway, but of Tempest there was no sign.
'Now where's he gone to ?' thought Sylia.
"Green, can you see him ?"
"No he's vanished"
"Red, what have you got ?"
"Where he was before, he hasn't moved White"
"You're not serious are you Red ?"
"Ahem .."
Sylia looked back at the source of the cough, Tempest was standing
back in front of them as though he'd never moved.
"I thought you wanted to see me ?" I inquired.
"Well yes, but ..."
"You're a little disconcerted about what your sensors are telling
you ?
Well okay maybe I'll stop these silly little party tricks and Nene
can monitor all she wants."
"How on earth did"
"I know that ?"
I completed Sylia's question for her.
"All will be come clear later, now please follow me if you wish to
continue this conversation. If you're still worried about your
safety, call Blue down, or should I say Priscilla S Asagiri ?"
My smile widened.
Linna had doubts about this and voiced them to Sylia over an
alternate channel since she assumed the first was compromised.
I cut in,
"Look Miss Yamazaki, I appreciate your concern for your comrades,
but the decision on whether to accept the invitation is something
for Sylia to decide. Do you not agree ?"
By now the smile on my face had widened even more.
"White, how did he"
Priss didn't get to finish her question, again I completed it
as I had done with Sylia's.
"I thought it was obvious from the statement I made earlier, Nene is
not the only one capable of hacking into a communications channel.
Also you might just as well drop the Red/Blue/White/Green stuff, you
should have realised by now I'm fully aware of your real names.
Are you coming in Sylia Stingray ?"
Sylia pondered this for a moment and then pointed her arm cannon
directly at me, calmly I walked closer and said
"Pull the trigger for all I care, but if you do you'll never learn
what I think you're here for, the choice is yours. Yes you can
harm me with your cannon or blades, Linna's knuckle bomber or her
mono-filaments would also be equally effective. Why do you think I
was in hospital ?"
Sylia noticed the now quite broad smile on my face and nudged Linna,
"Come on I think we're getting to be a major source of amusement
here and besides I'm going to accept Tempest's invitation."
They stepped cautiously into the room, again as they walked in the
dust totally failed to move. I beckoned them towards a door in
the far wall.
"Sy.. White, you're approaching an elevator" Nene chipped in.
"Nene Romanova, my dear"
The hairs on the nape of Nene's neck stood up, she turned and
"Wha.., I mean, how on earth ...." she stammered with shock, for
I was standing right next to her.
"Don't worry Sylia and Linna will not be harmed." I said to Nene.
"If either you Mackie, or Priss want to, please feel free to come and
join us in my study. A simple call over any of the comms channels
will suffice. TTFN." {1}
And with that, I was gone again.
"Priss did you get that ?" Nene asked.
"Yes, what happened ?"
"He was suddenly right beside me and then he was gone."
"Sounds like a useful trick to master."
Sylia and Linna accompanied me down in the elevator and emerged into
a well presented room.
"Welcome to my 'study' ladies, I say 'study' as it serves more than
one purpose but the term seems appropriate.
Please be seated if you want, those high heels don't strike me as
being comfortable when standing for long periods."
Both Sylia and Linna sat down in a pair of standard swivel chairs
more commonly found in most offices than a study.
Sylia spoke "Would a few explanations be possible ?"
"Such as ?" I asked.
"How you broke into our communications
How you disappear
The strange idea you know who we are ?"
"And how you were suddenly standing next to me" added Nene.
"First off an apology.
I'm sorry for all the little tricks I've just played, but it can get
terribly boring round here at times, so tweaking the other's tail
can be so amusing, well for me anyway.
I'm sorry if I startled you Nene, please accept my apologies."
A large smile broke out over Tempest's face.
"And some other questions I suppose would be, WHAT, WHY, WHO, WHERE,
WHEN followed by a large side order of HOW ?"
A small giggle from Nene came over the comm channel.
"Oops sorry"
She'd recognised it as twisted quote from THHGTTG {2}.
"Here's the abridged answer set to some of your questions.
Well anyone with the right 'equipment' could break a comms channel.
A holographic projection, I never left this room.
That would be telling{3}, maybe later.
I was an 'agent' but you could say I 'retired' at an early age.
I am the same person your father knew and also your grandfather.
I am older than I seem.
I'm not a buma.
Nor do I work for Genom."
The word Genom was spoken with a noticable degree of contempt in
my voice, for I almost almost spat it out.
Sylia wondered if Tempest's dislike of Genom was the same as hers,
but she pushed the thought away, wanting other answers first.
"With what you've done so far tonight, how do I know you can be
trusted ?"
"Ahh yes, it can be a little disconcerting, perhaps more so for
yourselves after meetings with such things as Meison/Largo"
Again the change in tone when speaking Meison's name was very
noticeable.
"Well perhaps an explanation is in order, although first I will ask
you Sylia if you want your comrades to hear all of this, some of
which will give you pain and sorrow, for I can not change the events
of the past. Before you give your answer stop and consider this next
statement, which only you will hear"
Priss and Nene's comms link suddenly went silent.
'Your father was not all that you hold him to be, he had a dark side
to him that very few people saw. I'm sorry if this causes pain but I
won't distort the facts, what is done is done, I will relate the
same story either way. The only difference will be in the audience,
please consider your answer carefully.'
The silence was such a pin dropping would have been clearly audible
even without the audio sensors in the suits, it lingered still, until
finally Sylia spoke.
"I'd like to ask my comrades what their feelings are as well if you
don't mind."
Linna could see that Tempests mouth wasn't moving and wondered how
long it would be before he spoke to Sylia.
The channel burst into life again as Sylia spoke to her friends, no
there was more to it than that, family was a better description for
her feelings towards Priss, Linna and Nene, although she'd never
voiced them.
"We've shared many experiences together over these years and I would
like to ask if you want to share Tempest's tale with me, please
take a moment before you answer."
An awkward silence descended over the channel, and at first Sylia
thought that Tempest had maybe closed it off again.
Finally it was Priss who broke the silence.
"Thank you Sylia, I" there was slight pause and her voice wavered
"I'll come and join you if that's alright"
Once Priss had broken the ice, Linna, Nene and Mackie voiced their
agreement and all asked if they could join her.
The respect in my voice was readily apparant when I replied.
"Your answer was no less than I expected. There is much more to you,
Sylia Stingray than meets the eye, I admire your attitude
considerably and I'll be happy to oblige."
There was a brief wait whilst Nene, Priss and Mackie came down from
their positions and rode the lift down to the study.
Once they were all assembled, I began.
"First off do not be concerned about KnightWing, the building across
the way has just aquired an 'extra' floor as far as intruders are
concerned and they will not find it. Even if they could they would
not survive the defenses now errected, they won't of course affect
yourselves. Now if you want to change into some thing more
comfortable then there are sufficient robes in the ajoining room,
if you wish to remain in your suits, I understand. And no, Mackie
you can't go and watch if the ladies wish to change."
With that last remark even Sylia managed a smile.
I was about to speak again when Mackie spoke,
"Hey sis, I know this guy."
"Are you sure Mackie ?"
"Yes, he handed me the data cartridge that came from dad."
"Good memory Mackie, that's perfectly correct. I promised your father
to deliver his legacy in person to you or sister in the event of his
untimely death. He knew that someone would catch up with him one day
and I was to be a back stop, assuming I outlived him.
He had largely prepared the cartridge but the last sequence came
over a data link just before the lab was destroyed. It was sheer
hell for me watching the events unfold over the link."
"You've seen the contents of the cartridge ?" Sylia asked.
"No, only the final sequence, it was a real time link. I combined
the data and delivered it to you, the rest you know."
"So you saw our fathers death ?"
"Yes exactly what you saw. Now, any quick questions ?"
"You said KnightWing was safe how about us ?" asked Nene.
"Down here we are invisible to Genom or anyone else's technology, you
only had readings because I allowed your sensors to penetrate my
web of protection, sorry Nene that is no reflection on your skills.
However, congratulations are in order for Nene when she decrypted my
old file, I thought that ten levels would be sufficient. But as you
can see this particular cute red-headed hacker is really very good."
Nene blushed, 'Good job I've still got my helmet on' she thought. It
was nice being praised though and from an outsider too.
"Your file says you were born in 1959 which would make you 74, yet
you don't look much older than mid thirties, how ? Also when Sylia
asked us if we wanted to join in this, you must have asked her
something, yet your mouth was closed for the whole time."
"Well Linna, on the age question that'll be adequately covered later,
but for now just let's say I wear well.
As to other, good observation and again I'll come to that later."
"I know that Troy Tempest is not your real name, but it is very
unusual isn't it ?"
"Well Priss, I have what some people would call a warped sense of
humour and when my real name was erased from records, we were asked
to choose our codenames, as my file shows I chose 'Phones'. If your
were in the UK about the same time as me then you would possibly
remember an old childrens TV show called 'Stingray'." {4}
Sylia visibly winced at this piece of information.
"And before anyone asks, I'm not making this up, it really did exist.
It was the first colour puppet show by Gerry Anderson and two of the
main characters were 'Phones' and 'Troy Tempest', 'Stingray' was the
name given to the submarine they piloted."
I noticed Nene was waving at me.
"Yes Nene ?"
"Do you have any tea ?" she asked trying to change the subject,
fortunately her ploy was successful.
"On the table you'll find a pair of glasses and a remote control
unit. The glasses will allow you to see the menus, selection via the
remotes. My droids will then bring what you want.
Any more questions ?
No, fine then I'll begin."
I went over to my favourite chair, but didn't sit down immediately.
"Since Sylia has invited you all to share this tale, then I'll
paraphrase what I initially asked Sylia.
I won't change anything that has happened in order to make it more
acceptable, it has impacted heavily on my life, as you will soon
learn. Dr Stingray was not all that people hold him to have been,
there was a side to his character that most people have never seen.
I know that neither Sylia nor Mackie have witnessed this and it may
be especially painful for them, it still gives me trouble now."
Chapter 1.3
-----------
I sat down in a well worn chair, an old car seat fastened to a swivel
base, placed a large cola drink on the side table and took a sip
before starting the story.
"I'll skip the boring stuff and pickup where life took a turn towards
the 'interesting' side of the stream.
I first met your grandfather Yasha, the first Dr Stingray, when I
went to Japan in the spring of 1988, this was not a mission but a
holiday in order to improve my Japanese. It turned out I was staying
next door to Dr Stingray and since I had a facination for anything
technical we began to get on very well. He had one son, Sylia and
Mackie's father Katsuhiro, unfortunately his wife was unable to bear
any more children due to complications during the birth. I left at
the end of June 88 and Yasha asked me if ever I got the chance to
look up an old friend who lived in Russia, this promise I made would
have dire consequences for me later. What I didn't know was your
grandfather was really a brilliant geneticist, the mechanics and
computing were just a hobby. However this hobby probably laid the
basic groundwork that Katsuhiro so successfully later built upon.
Naturally my job took to plenty of countries and eventually in 92 I
was able to keep my promise to Yasha and look up his old friend
Boris Stengovich. Unfortunately for both me and Boris this was not
especially a good time. Unbeknown to either of us he was under
surveillance by the KGB (Russian secret police) and my face was also
on file with the KGB, so when I met Boris and passed on Yasha's
greetings well it sort of went rapidly downhill from there. We almost
got arrested the next day but I just managed to save both of us and
Boris then decided that it would be good idea if I took his life's
work to Yasha for safe keeping. Now I wasn't too keen on the idea at
that point in time but it suddenly appealed to me when he slapped me
with a poison pin ring and calmly told me I'd six months to get to
Yasha who could provide the cure. Boris handed me a tatty looking old
bag and told me to guard it well, as my life would depend on it.
It was a late evening in Vladivostoc, the chill November air combined
with the frequent snow flurries hampered the efforts of the police
and army. I was leading them a merry chase and they searched
everything, people, vehicles and buildings, pity they forgot about
the sewer system. From the large numbers involved it was clear that
the bag I'd got was very important, damned if I could see what made
it so.
I was still trying to evade the clutches of the Russians when I
arrived in Pusan in January 1992, where I got on a junk bound for
Japan. It set sail down the river about five and headed out initially
westwards as though to travel down the coast, once clear of other
boats and within the cloak of darkness it changed course to the east.
The junk layed up in one the small bays on the island of Tsushima but
stayed clear of the shore. Sometime after midnight another junk drew
up alongside, the captain crossed to the second junk and handed over
a package to the new arrival's captain. After about ten minutes I
was also transfered and the Korean junk left the scene. I later
learned it never returned to its home port and it was presumed lost
at sea with all hands.
We made the crossing to Kazamoto where it remained off shore until
some others hove into view in the late afternoon whereupon it
followed them back to Fukama.
Eventually I made it to Yasha's residence where apparantly I
collapsed on his doorstep, my memory is hazy about that, I only just
remember getting there, Yasha filled in the gaps later. Well he found
out what I'd got and said he'd cure it but there would be some after
effects, since I felt like death warmed up anyway I told him to go
ahead and do it."
I paused to take a sip from my drink and noticed that all the Sabers
had removed their helmets, should have turned the air conditioning up
I supppose.
Sylia and Mackie took this opportunity to ask a few questions, mostly
about what her grandparents were like and where the house was, the
usual sort of family interest.
"Now things really began to go crazy, for three solid weeks I went
through all sorts of convulsions, blackouts and bouts of sickness,
I began to wish I was dead instead. Slowly it all cleared up but it
took another two months, during which time my arms and legs began to
resemble pin cushions from all the needles and drips that Yasha
stuck in me. I saw quite a lot of Katsuhiro during this time as he
assisted Yasha in changing the drips, poking me with needles and
bringing me meals."
"Seems a little odd for a nine year old to be helping with medical
things."
"Well at the time I didn't think about it, but later on it didn't
seem strange at all."
"Care to expand on that last remark, Tempest ?
"Not just yet Sylia, the explanation fits better later on.
Months later I found out Yasha had used me as a guinea pig for some
new drugs he and his friend Boris had developed. What neither of
them knew was whatever they'd brewed up was only ever going to work
on me in its current state because of some weird thing I'd picked up
on one of many other jaunts around the globe. Yasha found this out
when he tried it out on some other poor unfortunate who accepted the
money in exchange for a 'flu innoculation'."
"What happened ?"
"After a series of fits and he lapsed into a coma from which he never
recovered I'm afraid."
Sylia's next questions were the critical ones.
"Did Yasha's drug do what it was supposed to and what did it do ?"
"Oh yes it did what they wanted alright"
"You said 'they', you mean Yasha and Boris ?"
"Yes, even though Boris was now either dead or rotting in some
labour camp, half of his research was in it."
"So what did it do ?"
"Sorry Sylia, this where the pain will hit home.
Well it's a virus that affects the subjects brain by destroying and
then rebuilding the structure with new cells that vastly improve
the thought processes. It also gives holographic memory, in other
words every little detail can be recalled and th...
My voice wavered a little.
"the ability to totally isolate ones emotions."
At this last revelation Priss gasped, as she'd recognised what I
already knew.
Linna and Nene looked at me, then at Priss who was staring at Sylia
and finally followed Priss' gaze to look at Sylia. Mackie was holding
his sister's armoured hand not knowing what to think, Sylia was not
sobbing but tears were clearly visible on her cheeks.
I slipped over to Priss who was still staring at Sylia as though she
were some form of monster. Pulling her head round gently I looked her
straight in the eyes.
'Do not hold it against her, she has had no choice in this, if I had
known then what I know now then I would never have taken Boris's
research material to Yasha. I know you too have lost people that
were dear, Sylia has suffered the loss once now she's having to live
it again, please help her through this pressing time. I know you'll
understand what I'm saying even if you don't want to express the
feelings. Please I beg you help her.'
Priss looked back into my eyes and seeing the tears that ran down my
face, her head dropped slightly, I knew then it would be alright.
Now what Priss didn't know was that only she had heard what I'd said,
and Nene who was looking at me with quizical expression asked what
was wrong. Priss answered for both of us.
"Nn, nothing, it's ok now."
Linna and Nene were whispering to each other and from what I listened
to, were comforting each other and discussing how they could help
Sylia though the pain.
Sylia had a short weep and Mackie was doing a good job in comforting
his sister, however there was more to come and I knew it wouldn't be
good if we paused for too long.
So after returning to my chair, I coughed gently. All but Sylia
looked up imediately.
"Sylia, are you feeling up to continuing ?"
"Yes I'm ok now", her voice was not its usual authorative tone, but
there was strength and her tone was without emotion. This was a good
sign and indicated she'd be up to the next phase.
"Sylia, I'm sorry for what has been revealed so far but as I said
the past can't be changed and unfortunately there's more ahead. Now
from my point of view another attribute of the drug is useful that
is I'm sterile so there won't be any more like me. Now this may not
apply to you Sylia or Mackie for you both had a different treatment
which was developed a long time after the prototype drug that was
used on me."
There was another small gasp from Sylia. I wasn't sure if was because
I'd just let slip that Mackie was also enhanced or ...
Sylia's next query answered my unasked question.
"Are saying that some else developed the drug ?"
I nodded, Sylia already knew of Mackie's enhancemant ?
"Do you think this will also be painfull ?"
Sylia's enhancement was obvious now to the others and she was back in
control, for her voice was almost a monotone with no hint of emotion.
"I'm afraid so"
Linna interrupted us.
"I don't like the way you're doing this Tempest, you seem to be
dragging Sylia though an emotional hell whilst you tell us your life
story seemingly for your own pleasure. Who on earth do you think you
are to do this dreadful thing ?"
Before my 'treatment' I would probably have layed royally into Linna
for this, instead I dismissed the feeling.
"I'm sorry if you think I'm doing this for my own pleasure Linna, but
you're quite wrong. If I was trying to extract the maximum amount of
suffering from Sylia, then this wouldn't be the way and please don't
take the next statements to be arrogant, it's not meant in that
manner.
I've experinced things that none of you have and maybe never will,
however Sylia has some of these experiences to come and I don't like
the thought of her making the same stupid mistakes I made as a
result of this treatment, please believe me when I say it is pure
hell to do it.
All of you have some very unique abilities that are either dormant
or just peeping out of the shell in which they were caged. There is
one attribute that makes you special that you can experience again
if you will permit me.
Please replace your helmets and make sure the comms channel is
active, talk amongst yourselves to verify it is working, I will not
play any of my silly tricks, what you experience will be your
abilities."
Once everyone was helmeted I 'spoke'.
'Right now as you have heard the link is operative, I'll now ask Nene
to do something since her suit has the capability and she has the
expertise to achieve what is necessary, please continue to talk.'
I then spoke directly to Nene who was the only one who heard my
request, her replies however to me were broadcast.
'I know you can do this Nene.'
"But won't it ..."
'Indulge me.'
"Well alright but I don't ..."
'Please, do it.'
"Ok Tempest, it's running but how will the others say when they
find out."
"Find out what Nene ?" asked Sylia.
"What have you two been upto ?" asked Linna
"Yes, what's little miss cyberpunk been cooking up with Tempest ?"
"I don't understand, this shouldn't be worki....
Hey hang on it is working, so what's going on ?"
Nene sounded confused.
"Come on Nene tell us what you've done, or not by the sound of
things."
Priss taunted.
"This is crazy, it shouldn't be happening. Well believe it not
Tempest asked me to jam all the comms channels. But you can all hear
me and I can hear you, so ..
Ok Tempest what have you done to my suit's monitors ?"
Nene sounded a little put out.
'The truth is Nene that I've done ...' I paused for effect.
"Well we're all waiting Tempest." said Mackie.
'Nothing at all.'
"You said you'd done nothing, so if Nene's jamming is working
effectively and the channel is blocked. What did you do Tempest ?"
'Ah, very well reasoned Sylia. Well what I did and am still doing,
for Nene really has jammed the ssssssssssss'
Suddendly the white noise that Nene had flooded the comms channels
with came bursting over the link. Nene quickly turned it off as
everyone seemed to undo their helmets in double time. Once everyone
was helmet-less again and seated I continued.
"What I did was, to temporarily open up a part of your minds that you
may have tapped into accidently on odd occasions. Sylia you've had
experience in this area during your battles with Meison. In fact you
were all doing it before Nene's jamming came into play. The link never
was working until I released it, which was when you all got an earful.
Anyone care to postulate a theory on how your conversation was
carried out ?"
"Well at risk of sounding silly, by thought ?"
"Thank you Mackie, and no not silly at all, in fact spot on."
"Well I don't believe it for one minute and I thought you said you
weren't going to play any tricks." countered Priss.
"Not quite, I said no 'silly tricks' and this definately wasn't
silly."
'Perhaps you should settle down and marry me then Priss.'
"WHAT! MARRIAGE YOU'RE JOKING." shouted Priss.
"Marry who Priss ?" chorused the others.
"Well you heard him, I'd rather go on a date with Daley."
"Now that's a novel idea, but marry who ?" queried Linna.
"What do you mean WHO ? DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHat he said ....."
Priss's voice tailed off as she turned to face me, and it dawned on
what had just happened to her, I'd set her up and she'd fallen for it.
"KUSO, you did it again didn't you ?
Just to make me look silly ?"
"Well you didn't seem to mind the first or second times"
"What ?, if this was the third time, the second was when we all did
it. Ok you bastard, when was the first time ?"
Priss's anger flared.
"Do the words 'Please I beg you help her' jog your memory ?"
I grinned as I said that, bad idea.
Priss yelled and threw her glass at me.
I snatched it from the air and placed it on the table.
"You know your really quite cute when you're angry."
"BAKA !"
Priss screamed as she hurled her helmet at me.
I missed catching the helmet with my hands, my ribs didn't though. I
went over backwards with force of the blow and lay there winded for a
short time. Maybe the big grin was over the top ? Naah!
Priss looked a little shocked at how easy I went over and stayed down
She walked over.
"Hey are you ok ? I thought you were good in combat."
"That's ok."
I wheezed
"I deserved that. Should have known how you'd react, stupid of me really.
You've also just proved that I can be hit and hurt. I know you didn't
believe it before."
"Now you know why Priss doesn't have dates, she flattens her
partners first."
Linna managed to get out before laughing out loud, Nene was now
doubled up in a fit of giggles, and only Sylia enquired about my
well being.
"You ok Tempest ?"
"Just about I think."
I lifted my shirt and Priss whistled, not because I was in good
shape, but she was watching the bruise fade before her eyes.
"Hey, now that kind of healing would be very useful, you know."
Linna remarked, seeing the last of my bruise disappear.
"Well I may talk about it later as it comes from something else, not
Yasha's drug."
"Since the 'wrestling' has finished, would you mind continuing ?"
Sylia asked with just a hint of icyness in her tone.
"Let's get it over with whilst I'm in the mood."
Chapter 1.4
-----------
Everyone went back to their chairs and I sat down in mine, allbeit a
little carefully. Although the bruise wasn't visible any more I could
still feel the results, one cracked and two broken ribs. Pushing aside
the messages of pain from my ribs, I continued.
"The drug you were given differed in that it was time delayed so that
you wouldn't go through all the trauma that I did. You might have
had headaches, sudden mood changes, even a switch in personality or
you may have had no side effects. The advancements were all made
possible by the work of an enhanced mind and the experiments carried
out on adults and children, all of whom ended up as vegetables, dead
or both."
"Tempest you bastard, that's inhuman, but then I suppose you are.
You think you're above us now."
The anger flashed again in Priss's eyes and it took the combined
force of Linna and Mackie to hold her back.
"Just for your information, I was not the only functional enhanced
mind around at that time."
"And just what's that supposed to mean, Yasha drugged himself ?"
snarled Priss.
"No he'd done something worse than that, he'd treated his son !"
I countered.
"Aaaaaah" the loud wail cut through mine and Priss's angry exchange.
Ohhh shit no!
In the heat of my verbal tennis with Priss I'd let pride get the
better of me, so instead of gently letting Sylia down, I'd gone and
metaphorically pushed her off the tenth floor.
I ran over to Sylia who was crying heavily into her armoured hands
which she held over her face, her breathing punctuated by loud sobs.
"Oh geez I'm sorry Sylia it wasn't supposed to happen this way."
I felt absolutely awful, I'd let Sylia down because of my pride and
from the look on Priss's face she felt the same way. Priss's eyes met
mine and she bowed her head in shame, a feeling of deep remorse was
shared between us.
'Sorry Priss, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me,
pride got the better of me and I failed Sylia in her time of need.'
Priss didn't return my thought but her deep sorrow was very apparant.
How do you comfort a woman in a hardsuit, especially when both hands
are armoured ? I did what felt right anyway, I wrapped my arm around
her shoulders and hugged her gently, it didn't seem to matter that
the armour of the hardsuit came between us, the embrace lingered on
and Priss joined from the other side. Linna and Mackie were on either
side and Nene was kneeling in front with her head on Sylia's lap.
I don't how long we remained like this, time seemed to lose all
meaning as we gently rocked and hugged Sylia, the silence of the
moment like a morning mist spread gently over us. After while Sylia
rose from between us, left the room and returned without her hardsuit
but clad in one the kimonos I'd provided. Seeing how she looked more
at ease the others also went and changed, Mackie preceeding the girls.
There was a slight delay when Linna asked me to check the suit cameras
weren't running since Mackie was in the room before them, they were
pleased when I found nothing.
As I lay stretched out on the floor, eyes closed, cursing myself,
feeling throughly disgusted and wondering how I might ease Sylia's
pain. A hand gently caressed mine jolting me from my thoughts, I was
suprised to see it was Sylia's tear streaked face looking down as
she knelt beside me.
'I'm sorry this didn't come out in better way. Think you're up to
some more ?'
'Is there much more to go ?'
'There's more about your father's work that will be painfull.
If you don't want the others to hear then that can be arranged and
there's something more important as well.'
'I'd like Priss, Linna and Nene to hear the rest, they'll probably
understand me better, Priss needs this from the way she looked at me
earlier on. If the other thing is more important, then can we leave
the subject of my farther's work until afterwards ?'
'I think, no that's wrong, I know Priss will be alright.
And yes, whatever you wish.'
'Now what is the important matter ?'
'The more pressing problem is Mackie's final stage of integration.'
'But I thought it happened naturally, mine did.'
'No, it requires a trigger event. Yours was triggered by the data
cartridge, it had a drug that was keyed to you and when you played
the cartridge. The large data input combined with pain to give your
system a severe shock, thus the integration was completed.'
'Since the key drug is no longer available, the formula died with
your farther. It will thus be slightly more difficult to trip the
release, I can help but only if you want me too. If you don't, then
that is quite understandable after how I treated you earlier.'
'I don't want to do this alone and the time is near isn't it ?'
'Yes, I would have hoped for a happier atmosphere, but ..'
'Please don't worry unduly, we both know there are many advantages.
What is needed ?'
From the corner of my vision I could see Linna watching us, as we
seemed to be just staring into each others eyes. She arched an
eyebrow as if to say 'What is going on ?'.
'A circle with us all linking hands would be best, but if the others
don't want to participate then the three of us will suffice.'
'Alright let us prepare for Mackie.'
This had been a silent exchange, not a sound had passed between us
and it all taken place in the blink of an eye, talking by thinking
can be a wonderful thing. Another quick flurry of thoughts passed
between us and Sylia now fully understood what was required.
As the Priss and Nene returned they were astonished to see Sylia,
Mackie and myself seated cross-legged in a semi-circle and the three
us of holding hands. Linna grasped the significance first I think,
pulling Priss and Nene over to join us.
"What should we do ?" Linna asked softly.
"If you want to help, please sit down and join hands to complete the
circle if you wish to participate in the ceremony. Don't feel under
any compunction to join in, as it can be completed by the three of
us. Just relax and think about the times you've all spent together."
There was no pause, as they all sat down, Linna next to me, Priss
next to Sylia and Nene between Linna and Priss.
Nothing seemed to happen as far as Linna, Nene and Priss could see
although Priss said afterwards she felt as though a small current was
being passed along her arms, I guess some her injuries were sensitive.
However Sylia and I channeled the feelings of camaraderie that bonded
the group known the Knight Sabers through us and through Mackie only
to pass it round the ring again.
After about five, maybe ten minutes of this all of us were sweating
hard, then I let out what I'd been keeping back - all the pain I'd
suffered at the hands of Yasha and the mental torment. It passed
through Mackie like a bolt of lightning and on to Sylia who bounced
it back through Mackie to me, this doubled the impact and also saved
the others from what I'd felt. As it went through Mackie and came
back to me, he cried out and twitched before falling forward.
Quickly Sylia and I drew again upon the love and friendship of the
Sabers and passed the feeling to Mackie, again he twitched and cried
out, although now he was bolt upright. Then we suddenly snatched our
hands free of Mackie's.
He cried out again and began to sob gently, the tears running freely
down his face, then suddenly he stopped and slumped forward as he
passed out.
"Now what have you done Tempest ?" someone growled.
My first reaction was to look to Priss, but her expression told me
she was not only innocent, but shocked. I followed Priss's gaze and
was also very suprised, for the words had come from Nene. She had a
glint in her eye that no-one thought she was capable of. If looks
could kill and beauty didn't come into it.
"Calm down Nene" Sylia spoke softly and gently.
"He's only done what was needed and I didn't want to do this alone.
At least this way there are five of us to help Mackie through this
difficult period, my own was much more painfull."
With these words, the terrible glint in Nene's eyes slowly faded,
for which I was very grateful, it would have been truly awful to have
stop her with a fight.
"Mackie will be fine, no that's not quite true, he won't be exactly
the same anymore. I'd say you probably won't have to worry about
cameras any more after this."
That at least brought a wry smile to Sylia and Priss's faces. We lay
Mackie down on a futon I'd fetched from a cupboard and we sat or
kneeled near to him, with Sylia being closest.
"What will happen to him ?" Nene asked.
"Well right now part of his brain structure is being rebuilt, as the
energy we sent through him has triggered the final stage. He won't
forget anything, but he will appear to largely unemotional, even to
the extent of shutting them off completely. Also don't be suprised
if Mackie suddenly starts to be three or four steps ahead of you,
that's also one of the results of this treatment."
"Why is it you seem to have emotions, you've had the treatment ?"
"Good point Priss. Well the later form of treatment was improved in
several ways, the level of control being one, I'm not emotionless.
Hell, sorry Sylia, that wasn't very nice, I'm sticking my foot in
my mouth a bit tonight."
"Well it is pretty accurate, if only badly expressed.
And you are, aren't you."
There was just a hint of a smile with that last remark.
"I can shut off my emotions if I concentrate carefully, but it's
always been in my nature to be somewhat flippant so I don't try too
hard, I just use a gentle level of suppression."
"How long before Mackie comes round ?"
"About an hour or so I would think. Thankfully the rest of you were
on hand to provide the love and affection, so I was able to give
him a fairly heavy shock from the pain I've experienced."
"I had a strange feeling in my arms during this, was that your pain
that I felt ?"
"No I passed through Mackie, but Sylia returned it before it reached
you Priss. The breaks in your arms are obviously sensitive, and it
would have been Sylia and me searching for the love and affection
you all feel for one another that caused it."
"Well I've never had any twinges from them before."
"Well the obvious answer is you've never done this before.
Most you could do with a drink or even something eat after this,
any takers ?"
All four answered yes, so a quick telephone call to a friend who
owned a restaurant along with my unique method of travel, solved that
little problem.
Whilst we ate and chatted, there was the occasional murmer from
Mackie. Sylia glanced across to him with a slight hint of nerves, but
I assured her that he'd be fine. The first couple of times Sylia
and myself held his hands, briefly letting our minds touch Mackie's,
just to reassure Sylia.
After fifty minutes Mackie began to gently stir, he sat up about ten
minutes later and spoke.
"Would you have an orange juice, Tempest ?"
There was a small gasp from Nene, as Mackie's question was devoid of
any emotion or feeling, purely a request delivered in a monotone.
'Nene, Priss, Linna. Mackie will be like this for about another
fifteen minutes or so until he's got all the pieces sorted out, then
he'll back to normal. Having said that, normal won't be quite what
you're used to, his demeanour will be more or less like Sylia, as
he'll be able to switch his emotions off entirely should he so wish.
This doesn't necessarily imply he will though, it just means that
his intellect will rule over emotion.'
"Huh what, oh sure, no problem Mackie." I feigned not hearing him
properley as a cover for the delay while I broadcast the thoughts to
the girls.
I got Mackie his orange juice and asked
"Is everyone up to hearing what I know of Dr. Stingray and his
work ?"
Chapter 1.5
-----------
"Correct me if I'm wrong Sylia, but I don't think all the details of
Yasha's and your father's life were recorded either in his diaries
or upon the data cartridge ?"
"That's pretty well true, father's academic achievements are of
course at the university, but there is nothing of his early work or
that of grandfather's work recorded. Also I know little of my mother
and how father and she met, if you anything of this I'd be grateful
if you'll share this knowledge."
"My apologies for how I broke some of the news earlier, as I said
the treatment I received does not allow me the same level of control
that you have over your emotions. Some of what I'm about relate will
not only affect you quite deeply, it will also revive feelings in me
that I'd much rather forget, unfortunately that is not an option
here. Your father had what might be viewed as a dark and clinical
side to his character, which fortunately was only manifest in his
work. In social or family ocassions he was very reserved and quiet,
probably as a result of his enhancement and the way in which he
almost totally supressed his emotions."
"I hope you're not saying that Mackie and I will end up like my
father are you ?"
"No, it just depends on how you choose to use your abilities. Based
upon I've 'seen' of you Sylia and from what has happened so far
tonight you'll be fine. To use a popular idiom you don't have the
'ice queen' act perfect."
As I said the last bit there was a smirk on three faces, although
Mackie didn't appear to react, I noticed the corners of his mouth
twitched upwards slightly, a good sign.
"You see what I mean ?" I grinned back.
"Okay okay, I think you've made your point."
Sylia managed a wry smile.
"Your grandfather's work was, as I've hinted at before, in three
major fields those of genetics/biology, computing and mechanics.
The computing and mechanical work were more of a hobby to him, his
primary field was in genetics/biology and three us here of share the
results of his research. However it has to be said the manner in
which he conducted the research morally leaves a lot to be desired.
I found out after I'd had my treatment that he had no qualms about
using human beings of all ages as guinea pigs with or without their
consent."
These remarks again shocked my audience. Linna seemed to be taking it
harder than the others and you could see the anger welling up within
her, almost like a volcano before an erruption, though I would
initially have expected this from Priss.
"It pains me deeply to say this, but I think Yasha believed that the
end justified the means, no matter what the cost. For most of guinea
pigs this meant a period of intense pain followed by oblivion, and
towards the end of his experiments the period of pain was longer than
those ..."
My voice cracked as I started to cry and I had to stop, as the
terrible memories of those who cried out in their pain flooded back.
"... than those at the start."
I managed to get out between sobs.
After a pause I was able carry on. From the look on Priss's face she
had possibly revised her previous opinion of me and the fire in
Linna's eyes seemed to have burnt itself out. Sylia was not
displaying any reaction to this, but since she never knew her
grandfather I suppose this wasn't exactly a shock.
"Sorry about that, thought I'd managed to suppress those feelings
years ago."
My voice wavered again.
"How on earth did he get people to take part in these experiments ?"
I paused and concentrated carefully before continuing,
"I'd say if you're down and out then the prospect of regular meals
and a warm, dry place to stay is a good reward for a few injections.
Of course they wouldn't understand what was happening to them until
it was too late and who would miss the drunks and dropouts from
other places.
The childr ..."
It was no good I couldn't suppress the emotion any more and I once
again slumped forward, my head supported by my hands. The tears
flowed freely as the nightmare scenes of the wildly thrashing
children flashed before me. I could still hear their tortured screams
just as clearly as when I was in the same room slowly recovering from
my treatment.
Sylia later told me, it was fifteen minutes before I stopped howling
out from the pain, for me it seemed to be much longer. She had
briefly touched my mind whilst I was on my hell ride and was stunned
by the imagery she experienced.
When I 'came to', I found that all the girl's faces were also tear
stained which puzzled me, until Sylia told me what she had done.
"I'm sorry for invading your privacy Tempest, but we were unsure what
was happening to you. From what I 'saw', you seem to be holding
together pretty well, some of your experiences will also accompany
me to the grave. I took the liberty of describing as best I could
one of the scenes to Linna, Nene and Priss as they didn't understand
why I began to cry with you after holding your hand.
If it pains you too much, please don't feel the need to recall more
about Yasha's drug experiments, I think we've heard enough."
Sylia's voice betrayed her feelings as it quavered towards the end.
"Thank you, I don't think I could carry on with it any way."
"Well perhaps I misjudged you earlier Tempest."
There was a slight tremor in Priss's voice as well.
"sniff, thank you Priss. Give me a moment and I'll be alright."
There was short pause and then Sylia spoke.
"Is this what you meant about the differences between us Tempest ?"
"I'll answer that with another question. How difficult was it for you
to suppress your emotions during that Sylia ?"
"Well to be honest I didn't have to concentrate all that hard. It
was easier once I'd pushed the initial feeling away. Why ?"
"If I had concentrated hard I could probably have pushed it aside,
but to be honest I felt better after having the emotion, although
it may not have been as intense if I wasn't 'enhanced'. The point
of this is, you don't always have to push away the feelings, if you
have oportunity follow your emotion. That goes for you too Mackie."
A smile flickered across my face.
"So keep the cameras rolling, okay."
"HENTAI" three voices chorused.
"Ah ha, normality is restored. Repeat we have normality."{5}
The smile had now widened to a large grin.
"Now is that the hint of a smile there Sylia ? Go on, release the
cold shell and let it melt."
Sylia turned away from me, oops, have I pushed too far ?
Then she suddenly swung back round and ....
"Baakkaaaaaaaaa"
I got soaked by a well aimed jug of water.
Through the steady stream of drips that ran down my face I could see
a slightly misty picture of Sylia standing there with the empty jug
and sporting a large smile.
After wiping the water from my face.
"Well that turned out better than I thought. Now a possibly silly
question - Feel better for that ?"
"I can think of better things to do, but yes it did."
"Good, keep using the deicer. Try it again sometime. Waii"
Sploosh.
"glub. Okay nice shot Sylia, remind me not take you on in water
fight. Right I'm going to get changed, back in five."
After disrobing and as I was in the process of drying off, I could
have sworn I heard a yell. I stopped. It was all quiet, must have
been my imagination.
Having dried and changed I re-entered my study to see a squirming
heap of arms and legs (nice ones too) on the floor and muffled yells
of "aah no, stop it" between giggles.
Mackie was lying on his side convulsed in laughter. He saw me re-enter
the room, was was about to speak when I raised a finger to my lips
and he then gave me a thumbs up.
I could see Priss's hair streaming down her back, Nene's was over on
the left, that left a choice of two and I'd a pretty good idea who
was at the bottom of the pile.
I went over to a closet and quietly opened the drawer within, pulled
out a two black packages and attached the smaller one on top of the
other.
Silently I padded back over, pointed the assembly at the writhing
heap, pressed the button and held it down.
The room was suddenly illuminated by several bright flashes, and as
each one went off, the heap changed shape and slowly separated to
finally reveal a *very* disheveled Sylia at the bottom, surounded by
three giggling Sabers.
As I beat a hasty retreat back to the closet, I yelled
"Hey Mackie, what do you think these photos are worth ?"
Rapidly closing the door *and* locking it, I plugged the device into
a base unit and downloaded the images into my computer system. I'd just
finished when there was a loud rap on the door, cautiously I opened it
and looked round to see Priss in her hardsuit with her hand out.
"Give it here Tempest, do you know what I do to cameras ?"
"Ooh yes, I heard about that. Real shame it was a good one too,
black body Canon T201 SLR with 300mm IR autofocus zoom lens.
I suppose you know that the film comes out separately ?
And let me guess, now you want to play squash ?"
"Are you trying to be funny Tempest ?"
"Hey ho, another lead balloon."
I pressed another button and out popped an inch square of plastic.
"Here's the disk."
Crunch, Priss crumbled the disk between her armoured fingers.
"Pity. Ah well at least you didn't damage the floor with your heel."
As Priss turned around and headed back to change out of her hardsuit,
I grinned and gave thumbs up to Mackie.
Priss returned to be greeted thus,
"Ahh, welcome o mighty amazon. You're just in time, refreshments are
available from the sales team in the foyer."
I snapped my fingers, more for effect than anything.
"Well now that door is safely locked, Mackie would you care to do
the honours please."
"Don't mind if I do, thank you Tempest."
Tossing him a small remote control.
"Press the top left button please, left and right should be fairly
obvious I hope."
As Mackie pressed the the top button, part of the wall was replaced
by a screen illuminated by a white light in the shape of a square.
"Uh oh, get ready to duck." Nene whispered to Linna.
I leaned forward them and whispered,
"That's going to be a good move I think."
"Okay, hit it Mackie."
In high resolution detail, aren't digital imaging cameras great ?
Twenty still frames were displayed at about one every half second
of the writhing mass of female bodies. The final shot was the best
one though. For it showed four young women who for a brief moment
had returned to a childlike happiness without any worry of the world's
troubles to burden them and spoil their youthful dreams.
There in the middle lay a tear streaked Sylia, still smiling from
the tickling attack she'd just been subjected to by Linna, Priss
and Nene.
I was quite prepared to run for it, judging by Priss's earlier
reaction. However just as I was about to turn, Nene giggled which
spread like wildfire and then Sylia laughed again. Fingers were
pointed in various directions, followed by cries of "just look at
your face" and when Mackie threw in the line "Hey someone's pinched
the ice" well, chaos ensued as we all just curled up and laughed
ourselves silly for the next ten minutes.
Chapter 1.6
-----------
After a while when we had all regained our composure Sylia spoke.
"I think the cost in human suffering, for the benefit of four people
was too high a price."
"I'm afraid your count is wrong Sylia."
"Father, Mackie, yourself and me, that's four."
"Sorry too do this .."
I choked back the tears.
"I know of a fifth subject for definate, who is now dead (?) and
there's another about whom I'm eighty percent convinced is a sixth."
"I get a nasty feeling we've met the fifth." Nene murmered.
"He tried to cheat death, though fortunately he lost."
"Meison"
Priss spat out the word as though she'd just been given poison.
"Yes, Meison/Largo was the fifth, though he had a much larger dose
than Sylia or Mackie. It's obvious that too high a dose although
initially speeding up the process does nothing for the sanity of the
receiver."
"Who is the sixth person ?"
"The subject has a similar dose to Mackie, but seems to be a late
developer. You have met and I'm sure your paths will cross again in
the future, however until I'm certain, their identity will remain
known only to myself.
Please consider the subject closed to futher discussion."
Having been concentrating heavily, I'd now got a grip on my emotions
to such an extent that the last sentence was said in a mechanical
tone, with all the feeling of a Dalek.{6}
"Returning to my grandfather, what of his mechanics and computing work,
you said earlier those were not his main field of expertise."
"Yasha's mechanical expertise was pretty good for only a hobbyist and
he came up with some novel solutions to the articulation of joints.
Unfortunately whilst they exactly duplicated the range of movement
of the original, they weren't as strong. The designs did serve as
good examples for Katsuhiro showing the blind alleys up which Yasha
had been. Similarly his computer work was not so much on the
hardware side but more in the algorithyms to try to mimic various
biological aspects, such as the recreation of a 'cell' from its
partners code. The cellular reproduction cycle was quite amazing to
watch on the monitors, when a bit of the structure was destroyed,
the surrounding cells slowly rebuilt the damaged area. Of course
with the equipment he had, they were never quick, some ran for days
but they formed a cornerstone to Katsuhiro's later theories.
That's the general outline of his work, I have the details stored
on two data cartridges. The first is very different, in that it
includes all the joy, pain and suffering I've ever experienced
during my lifetime, in short it's a copy of me. This is probably
what Meison did before that meeting atop the Genom Tower, trouble is
he was already too far down the road to meglomania when he made it.
The transfer to an unfeeling body certainly wouldn't have helped his
mental state.
The other contains only the research notes though, which may be more
suitable. If you want either feel free, but please don't ever play
the first one back whilst directly connected in that chair of yours
Sylia, the result of merging your persona with mine could make Largo
look positively sane."
"Thank you for the offer, I'll pass on the first and consider the
latter if that's alright. The prospect of learning where Yasha went
wrong is tantalising, but the thought of having to play god is
frightening.
What of my father's life and work. Mackie and I have always looked
upon him as good man sacrificed by Genom, was he playing at god as
well ?"
"There doesn't seem much point in telling of your father's accademic
acheivements as these are matter of record, however I'll tell you of
what I know of his life and work.
As to whether he was taking the role of god then I'll let you make
up your minds. My views won't necessarily coincide because I only
witnessed parts of his life outside of the family life you knew.
Most of the information about your father's life at university has
either been told me by your father or from his fellow students and
friends.
He was very conscientious student when in university and always
seemed to working. In his free time you could usually find him
immersed in some book or concentrating on a program at a computer
terminal.
If he wasn't studying or talking with the professors or other
members of staff then he was to be found wandering the grounds and
nearby parks. He had an air of someone who was only present in body
and his mind was off exploring some other universe, it was on one
such occassion an accident took place.
Katsuhiro was strolling along one of the paths, concentrating on a
book in his hand when he collided with a young lady laden with books
and small bag of shopping. Apparantly he picked up all her items,
apologised several times and then resumed his walk, unlike the young
lady who had paused to watch him depart.
His marks in exams and his project work came to notice of a small
company which specialised in the design and manufacturer of
various industrial robots, control systems and rescue equipment.
In return for analysing problems they were having with some of their
products, the company offere to assist him financially through
university, which he duely accepted. Now his nights and weekends were
spent working for the company and his first modifications to the
production line robots gave the company a marked advantage over
their competitors.
Over time the company's reputation grew as the one to use for
industrial robots. Katsuhiro wasn't happy with the limitations of
fixed position robots and was sure that more mobile versions would
give better results, however a suitable power unit was the major
stumbling block that wouldn't be overcome for some time.
At the university Katsuhiro was held in high regard and many people
came to him seeking advice on technical matters, even the laboratory
technicians. One of the lab assistants, Fujiko Oshima, who sought
his advice was vaguely familiar but he didn't initially remember
why, until she reminded him of the incident on the path."
"Why didn't he remember her ?
You said he'd been enhanced ?"
"Well apparantly, between the meetings, she'd stopped using a wig
and the heavy makeup, also she was now wearing her glasses all the
time. Even with a holographic memory, you don't play police photofit
with everyone you meet and besides it was about this time that your
grandfather Yasha was killed."
"Was it natural causes ?"
"No, he died in traffic accident, crushed by a runaway truck whose
driver swerved to avoid a group of school children.
Your father was naturally upset as he now had no family of his own
left."
"What about our grandmother ?"
"I only ever saw her the once, when I first met Yasha in 88. I think
she was already dead when I returned with Boris's work in 92. I
wasn't exactly in good shape then and I never asked Yasha about her.
I attended Yasha's funeral, it was small gathering and there was a
young lady present alongside Katsuhiro whom I didn't recognise, he
seemed happy in her company and I dind't intrude on his grief. That
was of course your mother Fujiko, though I didn't know that at the
time.
There were also some men in suits who kept their distance from the
main party and I was unable at that time to find out who they were.
Fujiko signaled to one of them ay one point, so I assumed they were
with her.
Over time a steady friendship with Fujiko built up, for Katsuhiro
was not one to rush into things unless it was work. Some of his
colleagues and friends were astounded that he had found time for
anything other than work or study and he was teased about it
frequently.
Eventually they married in the summer of 2008 in a small ceremony.
Fujiko's mother was already dead and her father Hiroshi had failed
to make it back from one of his frequent business trips.
Again there were the anonymous men in suits present, but they kept a
respectful distance. Katsuhiro apparantly asked Fujiko about them,
but she said she'd not noticed them, a rather strange answer it
seemed."
"Were they same ones as at the funeral Tempest ?"
"I don't know since I didn't attend the wedding, this is only from
information I later picked up."
"Do you know where the were from and the conection to mother ?"
"Yes, I may come to that later.
Katsuhiro completed his Phd, gained his doctorate and now went to
work fulltime for Genom.{7} Fujiko and Katsuhiro moved out the of
the flat in Nagoya to a small house in Tokyo, since Genom's main
research and development laboratory was sited in Tokyo.
Even after they'd married Katsuhiro saw nothing of Fujiko's father
Hiroshi, he seemed to be permenantly away on business trips, and
frequently out of the country.
His work began to pay dividends as more companies wanted Genom's
robots and control systems. With this growth in business came the
aquisition of several other small engineering firms that were
involved in the motor industry.
In appreciation of his work so far the Katsuhiro was given a 3%
share holding and offered promotion to research manager. Apparantly
he declined the offer, a move which supprised several people.
In the year 2010 there was a happy event in the Stingray household.
Sorry there are no prizes for guessing it was the birth of Sylia.
The name comes from a cryptic reference to Boris." {8}
"What do you mean ?"
There was a momentary pause, then Sylia spoke again.
"No don't bother. Think we'll keep that one left unsaid. Besides
I know what was meant and take it you've unravelled it Mackie ?"
"Yeah, with you all the way on that one sis."
"Do you mean to say Dr Stingray was a Genom shareholder ?"
"Excuse me while I have quick drink, my throat's quite dry."
I picked up my drink and drained the glass, as I put it down another
replaced it.
Chapter 1.7
-----------
"I could tell you all the 'other' way if you like."
"No, three times in one night is quite enough for me, Tempest. I'm
not exactly comfortable with the idea yet, would be great for combat
situations though I suppose."
"Okay then Priss I'll carry on with the speech and you're correct in
thinking that it's useful in your line of 'work' since it would be
nigh on impossible to jam by others."
"Back to your question Linna. Yes he was a shareholder, since he had
helped to build the company up with the results of his work."
"What happened to the shareholding when he was killed ?"
"Well I do know the answer, but I'll leave it to Sylia since she
inherited the estate."
"We'll pick this topic up at a later date Linna, I'd rather like to
hear the rest of Tempest's recollections."
I don't know whether Linna caught the slightly icey tone in Sylia's
answer, but she agreed to take it up later, so I continued.
"Katsuhiro temporarily became the doting father, always home from work
on time and spending plenty of time with Fujiko and Sylia. However he
eventually slipped into his old ways of late nights at Genom.
I gather that he got quite a shock when Hiroshi called him one night,
especially since he'd never spoke to him before.
During the next few years Genom expands further and as Katsuhiro's
work bears fruition and Genom's market expands, his shares were
steadily increased until he had a 6% stock holding. I believe that
was the largest share by any non-excutive board member."
Linna's eyes widened. I guess she was thinking what the stock would be
worth.
"Genom expand again, this time taking over a company making machinery
for the construction/demolition industry. Katushiro was brought in to
examine the existing line and to see if improvements could be made in
the light of the progress he had made for the robotics and production
lines. The company had a working power frame that a human sits
inside, similar to those seen on old science fiction shows and films
from the nineteen seventies and eighties.{9} The major limitation
being it was all hydraulically driven pistons which are fairly
bulky and that it required an external hydraulic feed with the
associated problem of a trailing hose.
Katsuhiro eventually perfected an artificial muscle made from a fibre
that reacts to electrical impulses, but it does require a fairly
complex computer control system.
The artificial muscles were allied with the lifter frames. This
resulted in a reduction in size making a more compact and agile unit.
The limitation of the trailing power feed was still present but sales
of the new units increased, since portable electric generators were
much less expensive than their hydraulic counterparts and the cable
was less bulky than the hydraulic feed hose.
He was given a pretty free reign in research direction and having
made major improvements to the control mechanisms of the various
robotic assembly line equipment he turned his mind to the
possibilities of a true artificial intelligence.
He contacted some of his old university colleagues and arranged a
meeting in a local restaurant. Not all his old colleagues showed up
at the meeting, but those who did were supprised when they were
offered well paid jobs at Genom and they were to work with Katsuhiro
on a new project - a free thinking computer.
Many problems were encountered, but the team made steady progress
until they came up against a major stumbling block which seemed to be
insoluable. The free thought process worked, until for some reason it
regressed into randomness, despite the team's best efforts they could
make little or no impact upon the collapse.
April 2015 saw another addition to the Stingray household, the birth
of Mackie. Yet again the same pattern emerged as when Sylia was born,
Katsuhiro temporarily ceased his late nights for a while and then
returned to sessions Genom.
When no further progress was made for fours months the project was
put on hold. With the disbandment of the project Katsuhiro was
reassigned to resume work on the robotics and production line range.
In the following winter of 2016 a high ouput power unit that was both
compact and reliable was completed by Genom research, this enabled
the lifter frames to be independant of an external energy source.
With that development the sales increased to a point where Genom had
80% of the market and many companies went bankrupt. In some cases
they were 'saved' by a takeover by Genom.
The lifters found other uses aside from the construction/demolition
industry, what with the earthquake activity in Japan they were soon
used to help rescue survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed
buildings.
Intrigued by the new power source and in the light of developments
with the power lifters, Katsuhiro resurrected an idea he had much
earlier but had shelved. In the evenings he retired to a room of the
house that was converted into a small workshop not long after the
birth of Sylia. He took a months holiday around this time, which was
an unuasual event considering how he was always working long hours at
Genom.
Lots of equipment arrived prior to the first day of his holiday."
"Just where did you get all this from Tempest, it's not in my father's
journals ?"
"Sorry to be cryptic but as I've said, I have my 'sources'.
It was during this holiday time I saw Fujiko and Katsuhiro together
in the park, since this was one of my haunts at the time, I guessed
they'd managed to rekindle the old university atmosphere whilst
Katsushiro was home all day. He didn't acknowledge my presence at
any time, though I'm sure he recognised me. The strange thing was,
Fujiko knew who I was and she waved at me once.
After the month was up, Katsuhiro was getting home at a more normal
hour, but once he'd eaten he locked himself away in the workshop till
the early hours of the morning. Life for Fujiko and the rest of could
not been easy with that kind of behaviour."
"My memories of that time are hazy, I suppose that's because it was
prior to the treatment."
"I'll agree with you on that Sylia. My own memories prior to treatment
are as though I'd not had the drug. The perfect recall only comes
into force after the enhancement process has completed.
Mackie, you'll find the same thing happen to you.
That means he'll won't be able to remember perfectly all the camera
shots he's got so far of you all changing, lucky break eh ?"
"Trust you to remind us of that !"
"Well I'd have said that was good news myself, Priss.
What do you think Mackie ?"
'Play along with this Mackie, go for the cameras angle'
"Guess I'll have to try harder with the cameras.
Now I should be able to come up with better models."
Mackie grinned and winked at me as said this.
"Argh, see what I mean Tempest." Linna protested.
"Thought the 'ice' approach was going to be out of fashion, eh Sylia."
A large grin spread across my face.
"Priss, Linna, hang on a minute, I think he's playing us against each
other again."
"That's very perceptive of you Nene. Another point for the cute
redhead."
"Would you please stop calling me that Tempest ?"
"Okay, okay, I guess my brand of humour can wear thin at times."
"YES" they all chorused.
"Well I know of three things that he'd been working on at home, two of
which your all familiar with. One was subsequently developed by
Genom."
"Bumas, damn 'em" Priss's tone conveyed her hatred of the breed.
"Correct Priss. The second was carefully concealed and only surfaced
much later on when it was further developed by Sylia."
"You mean that Dr Stingray designed the hardsuit ?"
Linna looked quite supprised, she obviously thought Sylia had come up
with them.
"Yes the hardsuit was originally conceived by Katsuhiro, although Sylia
has done a lot of work to improve the original design."
"Why didn't Genom get the hardsuit designs ?"
"I don't know. Perhaps Katsuhiro thought they would be irrelevant
once the bumas were completed.
Here's another thought for you.
Have considered why you're an all girl team ?"
"Well I thought it was because Sylia decided that way. Since you've
asked the question then I assume there is another ?"
"Perfectly correct on both points Linna."
"I find it most interesting that the original design by Katsuhiro
was not designed around a male.
No this isn't a sexist remark, there are logical reasons for choosing
a female as pilot.
Consider the use to whch the suits are going to be put, close quarter
combat. One of the overriding concerns in a close quarter combat
situation is the speed at which you can react to a given threat. The
smaller stature of a female has some definite advantages here :
a) the nerves are shorter in length - faster response.
b) lighter than a male - faster change in direction is possible
due to the smaller moment of inertia.
c) less bulky than the male - more room for equipment and so the
power to weight ratio is better.
Would you say that's a fair assessment Sylia ?"
"To take a phrase from your book Tempest.
The weird fool with glasses gets a point."
"Touche, Sylia, knew I'd break the ice one day.
Now a second thing that never got to Genom, nor has it been seen
since, is the details of the drug Sylia and Mackie were given.
I'm ashamed to have to say that Katsuhiro also used human guinea pigs
in the same way as his father, the end justified the means. If I'd
found out earlier we may have never met here tonight, because I'm not
sure I would have been able resist the temptation of stopping the
project at it's inception."
"How did he carry out the experiments, surely Fujiko would have known
about it ?"
Once again Sylia's voice had a noticable quiver to it.
"He conducted them at an old warehouse that used to stand not far
from here, it was demolished after the earthquake. Do you want to
know the details ?"
My voice now had a quiver to it as well.
"No I'll pass on that thank you. One of your wailing sessions is about
all I can stand for tonight.
Care to elaborate on your remark about stopping the project ?"
"I'm glad you said that, thank you.
My judgement is now coloured by events that subsequently took place.
But it would be fair to say that it would have been a very difficult
decision to let the project procede in the light of my knowledge of
Yasha's experiments. If I'd stopped your father, yours and Mackie's
enhancements would probably not have occured and I guess the Knight
Sabers wouldn't exist as a balancing force to Genom.
Now this means I too could having been playing at god, I'm thankfull
that situation didn't arise.
Is that sufficient clarification, or would like me to philosophise
futher ?"
"No that's fine. I think we can all do without a major philosophical
debate on the subject.
Thank you for offering. (I think)."
Now it was Sylia who was smiling.
"Better get a camera, Sylia's smiling"
My inane grin returned.
"Shall we get on ?
Good, are we all on ?
Hmm, bit cramped but nice."
"Aww, the stupidity is back." Linna didn't sound happy, guess my brand
of humour was not to her taste.
"Hey, it was too a good an oportunity to miss."
"Well could you give me advance notice next time, then I can be out."
"Okay, okay I can take a hint (maybe).
Around this time Fujiko went to visit Hiroshi, I don't know the
subject, but I'd surmise it would be Katsuhiro's sessions in the
workshop and long nights at Genom.
I often wondered why she went to see him, instead of him visiting her
and so having the opportunity to speak to Katsuhiro.
Also Katsuhiro was having problems at Genom. A new man Meison, had
been brought in to oversee the buma project and I don't think
Katsuhiro was enthralled with the direction in which the project was
being steered.
Meison had apparantly convinced the Genom executives there would be
more profit involved if the bumas were developed as military weapons
instead of free thinking beings as envisaged by Katsuhiro.
It didn't help that Meison was prone to announcing how he'd outdone
Katsuhiro in the power stakes.
Katsuhiro made his feelings known to board but was told to get on
with his job and leave the strategic decisions to the board.
He protested about this several times which naturally didn't engender
him to the board who I suppose began to view him as an unnecessary
risk for Genom.
In December 2020, Fujiko met with her father Hiroshi in a restaurant,
normally they met somewhere private. During their meal a bomb was
thrown through the window behind Fujiko, she was killed instantly and
Hiroshi was critically injured.
It was later anounced that the man seated at the next table to Fujiko
and Hiroshi, was a Yakusa boss who was involved in a war with
another gang and they were just innocent bystanders.
Now I don't have concrete proof, but I seriously doubt that story."
"You're saying the police covered up ?"
Nene sounded extremely put out by my last remark.
"Sorry Nene, I'm not saying the police were covering for anyone, just
that they weren't able to get to the facts before they were
'adjusted'. My reasoning will become clearer in a minute or two.
Now before Hiroshi died in hospital, he had a visitor whom he'd never
met before."
"From Genom no doubt ?"
"No that would be a giveaway to the real killers. Hiroshi's visitor
was his son-in-law Katsuhiro Stingray. Hiroshi had also requested my
presence but I arrived too late, so I only know a little of what
passed between them.
Hiroshi passed a note he'd written to Katsuhiro who was to take to a
certain bank before a specified hour and present it to the manager.
The outcome of this little transaction was Katsuhiro now had control
of Hiroshi's business interests, as Fujiko was dead. It transpires
that Katsuhiro held onto the companies for a relatively short time
before selling them to the Hou-Bang organisation for a tidy sum. I
believe he did retain the shares though.
Would that be correct Sylia ?"
"Yes I still have the shares in those companies. But I wasn't fully
aware of how they were originally aquired or how my father suddenly
came into the large sum of money."
"Hou-Bang ? That's the group that Reika Chang controls isn't it ?"
"It certainly is Linna."
"Sylia you mean to say you have shares in Reika's organisation ?"
"Yes. Now what's wrong with that ?"
"Well nothing really I suppose, it was just a bit of shock. Does Reika
know ?"
"Probably not, there are several intermediaries between us.
Please continue Tempest."
I noted the coolness in Sylia's voice, her business transactions were
a sensitive subject it seems.
"Whatever else was said between Hiroshi and Katsuhiro, I'm afraid was
lost when your father died since he never told me.
After their deaths though, I've noted that he followed instructions
at Genom to the letter. My supposition here is there was a veiled
threat made to him about Mackie's and your safety should he decide
not to 'toe the party line'.
I'm pretty sure Katsuhiro knew his time was short from this point as
he created the data cartridge, tracked me down and left me specfic
instructions on it's handling and method of delivery. He probably had
details from Hiroshi about me, his father's records and of course
he'd met me briefly in the park.
Well as we all know, he was killed in that explosion at the
laboratory back in 2022, so I guess Genom had finally decided they
could do without him at that point.
I finalised the data on the cartridge, coated it with the key drug
and delivered it in person, as specified, to either yourself or
Mackie, the rest as they say is history.
However remember a little while back I said he was working on three
things at home in the workshop ?
Well he'd resumed work work on the third item just after Fujiko's
and Hiroshi's deaths, putting a lot of effort into it as well."
"Surely he was down at the Genom research laborartory working on the
final stages of the buma designs ?"
"Not all the time, Sylia."
"What makes you so sure Tempest ?"
"I was with him."
Chapter 1.8
-----------
"What are you holding back for Tempest ?"
"It was another drug treatment that he was working on."
"Sorry, that subject gives you trouble doesn't it ?"
"This isn't the same as the others, but the consequences are much
more far reaching. It will involve a major decision by three of us.
It could even change the whole human race and the outlook on life."
"Sounds like really nasty stuff Tempest.
How many guinea pigs died for this one ?"
"No one has died Linna. Yet"
"What do you mean 'yet' ?"
"Well the test case is still alive and doing rather nicely I would
say. But the consequences of the decision that three of us have to
make could herald a bloody conflict."
"How do you know how the 'test case' is alright ?
Unless you're caring for them, but I thought you said you weren't a
doctor of any form."
"True I'm no doctor, but then I am still standing here.
However thank you Linna, for being concerned over my well being."
"YOU'RE the test case ?"
"Yes, remember when my bruise healed up ?
Well I didn't mention it at the time but Priss's bowling ball act
with her helmet also cracked one rib and broke two others."
"What!
Why in heavens name didn't you say, they should be strapped up.
Here let me take a look."
Strange I'd never thought of Linna as the nurse type.
"Hardly necessary to strap them up, though you are welcome to
examine them if you want."
"Okay, come on take off that shirt.
Hey that's us in our hardsuits on there, where did you get it ?"
"Had it made up specially.
Anyway I thought you were looking at ribs, not shirts."
"Alright, now the bruise was here, so the broken ribs should be
here ...."
Her voice tailed off as she probed gently with her finger tips.
"Well any comments, Nurse Yamazaki ?"
The grin grew to a smile.
"I, I can't find the breaks."
"That's because they aren't there any more. The damage was completely
healed by the time Mackie came out of his sleep."
"But that was only about ninety minutes after they were broken" !
Linna looked both suprised and confused.
"Give the lady a cookie !"
"Linna, I think he's making another of his silly jokes. Broken bones
don't heal that quickly, I should know I've had enough of them."
Priss remarked as she watched Linna's confused look.
Nene giggled, since she knew something the others didn't.
"What's funny now Nene ?"
Before Nene could answer Priss, I spoke.
"Nene, would you tell the others what you found in the hospital
reports on my recent accident."
"Well the medics who arrived on scene reported a broken right leg, but
when the hospital made the x-ray they only found what they thought
was an old injury. The report of the medic on scene was dismissed as
an error, after all the x-rays showed no breaks."
"Well the medics on scene weren't wrong, but neither was the
hospital. They just had the age of the injury wrong."
"You mean to say you heal that quickly ? I'm impressed and you've got
me interested as well Tempest."
Priss's voice and body language showed her enthusiasium for such a
useful ability.
"Yes I think we could all use that Tempest."
Even Nene sounded interested.
"Wait a minute, you were admitted on Friday and discharged on
Wednesday. If you heal up that quickly why were in so long ?"
"Well Linna, I think they were somewhat curious since they'd got two
different accounts of what had happened to me and since I didn't
want them investigating too closely I'd slowed down my healing rate
so the 'break' as they'd seen it didn't change. They were now pretty
well stuck for a reason to hold me so I discharged myself, once I
was back here I just kicked my recovery rate into high gear."
Sylia had been quiet during all this but she now spoke.
"You said it would involve a decision by three of us Tempest. I'm
assuming you mean yourself, Mackie and me, since it is the result
father's work.
Why is it a major decision ?
I would have thought such a discovery would be a great benefit.
Obviously there must be a flaw somewhere, or you wouldn't be holding
back."
"You got the group correct, and I didn't include Nene, Linna and Priss
because they are not part of the key that has been applied to the
data. Your father was very much more careful with this one, I have
had the data disc since his death, but nothing can be done with it
until all three of us agree to unlock it.
The flaw as you put it, is the drug has, what one might call a rather
odd side effect."
"What does this one do Tempest, give you a bad sense of humour ?"
"No I've had that from a long back Priss and it's not cureable by
surgery either.
Well I could say 'immortality' but that's not quite right, but"
"You mean you can't be killed ?"
Priss exclaimed before I'd finished.
"I was going to say 'resistance to death'{10} before you jumped in,
as this better describes the result.
I can be killed, but it takes a hell of a lot more to do so.
Don't think this is good though, all the pain normally associated
with an injury is still felt.
Though over time it's effect is lessened, I suppose you become
accustomed to it."
"I think I know what you're leading up to here Tempest, but tell us
anyway."
Sylia was ahead of everyone as usual.
"Well consider what happens when the 'leaders' on this planet find
out about this wonder drug. Unless I am misreading things, I would
say they'll get the treated first.
Then it'll be those who can afford to pay the price next, probably
followed by criminal elements. The fights that could ensue will be
nothing like we've witnessed before.
It won't be possible to conceal the effects either, look at me I'm
seventy-four and don't look much older than thirty-five.
How could you hide that ?"
"Hang a minute, if you weren't given the treatment until say 2021,
how come you look thirty-five ?
Surely you should resemble a sixty year old in appearance ?"
"Two more points to Nene.
Yes, I had my treatment in December 2020, so I should look
sixty-one. However if you've had the enhancement, then you can
control your apparant age, I choose to be thirty-five.
With no enhancement, then your apparant age remains that at time
you receive the treatment.
I'll try and preempt some questions here.
You can look older or younger, although you can't change your
physical build. So for example trying to look like a child is a waste
of time.
It takes lot of effort, energy and time to make the changes.
For instance it took me three days hard work to get to thirty-five
from sixty-one, I felt really tired for the next two as well."
"Probably a strange question but, why thirty-five ?"
"Nothing strange about that Mackie, let me explain.
I chose thirty-five because,
You're old enough to command respect from younger people.
You've 'been around' enough to pick up all sorts of knowledge,
so you don't constantly have to think 'down' to a lower level.
It's the sort of age where you can still get employed. Remember
you still have to eat, sleep, have a base of some sort etc.
Basically it gives one an easier time."
"Why couldn't you examine the data yourself ?"
Nene asked.
"I'm sure with your skills you could crack it."
"Thanks, that's praise indeed from a fellow computer-hacker,
especially from one of your calibre Nene. Good though the
enhancement process is, it doesn't make me omnipotent.
The data reader requires four samples of blood, mine, Sylia's,
Mackie's and Katsuhiro's."
"Well that's the end of that then." muttered Priss.
"Not quite Priss. Remember I said that he knew his time was short,
so he left a sample with the reader. All it will require is the three
of us to agree to release the data and answer the questions provided
after the samples have been inserted."
"Father didn't want to take any chances with this, did he ?"
"No Mackie, I think he had realised where he went wrong with the
earlier drug experiments and with the buma information. He could
have being trying to make up for his earlier mistakes.
Sylia, do you want to discuss this privately via a mind link, or
bring in Linna, Priss and Nene ?
Bearing in mind what is decided could drastically affect their
lives as well.
I for one don't mind which way and I'd appreciate comments from
you all."
"Don't take this the wrong way Tempest, but could we have an initial
discussion without you ?
You haven't fought our battles, and although you are evidently a
close friend of my father and grand-father you're not part of this
team just yet."
"Perfectly alright with me Sylia, and I would have asked the same
were I in your position. Now do you want to go some place else or
shall I turn command of Marvin's scramble and alarm system over to
you ?"
"Who or what is Marvin"
"Marvin is all around you, it is my computer system, has the power
to jam ANY sort of signal including mind links and to warn of
violations."
"Marvin, specify your capabilities for anti surveillance jamming."
Any frequency in the range from 0 to 10 raised to the power 1000 hertz
is with my calibration range. Higher frequencies are possible but have
not been fully tested and verified so far. All known means of
telepathic communication can be negated with the addition of eaves
dropper being rendered unconcious if required. The range of these
services is currently limited to a distance of one astronomical unit.
"You mean from here you block all communications as far as the sun ?"
Sylia sounded a triffle supprised.
"Marvin answer please."
That is a correct assessment of my capabilities within the parameters
specified.
"Well I'm impressed Tempest, who designed it ?"
"Two of us had a hand in Marvin's base design, myself and Katsuhiro.
After that we left Marvin to finish the job.
We can talk about Marvin later if you like. Do want to go elsewhere
or for me to take off for a while ?"
"Well I think we'll discuss it in the KnightWing, but I'd like ask a
favour of you."
"Go ahead shoot, not literally though."
"I'd like Marvin to provide a complete security blanket around
KnightWing, it must also prevent you from spying with Marvin.
Can Marvin scan KnightWing, the hardsuits and us for any
unauthorised devices as well."
"I have no objection to that and a very shrewd move.
Marvin please expedite Sylia's request.
You will return full control on one the following conditions
A specific request from any member of the Knight Sabers.
All members of the Knight Sabers incapacitated.
The return of the Knight Sabers to this room.
Confirmation please."
Commencing scan of hardsuits ....
Scanning personnel ....
Scanning of air transport craft known as KnightWing ....
Complete, no unauthorised devices found.
Security blanket in place, the permitted deactivation parameters are
A specific request from any member of the Knight Sabers.
All members of the Knight Sabers are incapacitated.
The return of the Knight Sabers to this room.
No other overrides allowed.
The girls changed first, when they returned Mackie went and suited
up. Then they all returned to KnightWing whilst I contemplated what
had transpired so far.
I picked up a pair of lightweight headphones, switched on the link,
placed a music cube into the player and leaned back in my chair
relaxing to the sound of Hisaishi Joe's beautiful music.
<End of "The Tempest Chronicles I" >
=======================================================================
Footnotes :
{1} TTFN - ta ta for now, (see you later).
{2} THHGTTG - The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
A trilogy in five parts by Douglas Adams.
Read it and laugh.
{3} The Prisoner - A cult UK television show staring Patrick McGoohan
that followed up Danger Man (also staring Patrick
McGoohan). Confused lots of people when first shown
and still does today, as it's not just a simple
secret agent type show.
{4} Stingray - A childrens puppet show by Gerry Anderson.
His first in colour, having been preceeded (B/W) by
Torchy the Battery Boy
Four Feather Falls
Supercar
Fireball XL5
and followed (colour) by
Thunderbirds
Captain Scarlet
Joe 90
The Secret Service (mixed puppet and live action)
UFO (live action)
Space 1999 (live action)
Terrahawks
{5} THHGTG - The Hitch Hikers Guide to Galaxy
Another plug for Douglas Adams.
{6} Dalek - Anagram of Kaled, from the UK TV series Dr Who.
My first exposure to Sci-Fi, it was pretty scary stuff for
a six/seven year old, peaking over the back of the sofa to
watch the Daleks and Cybermen menace the galaxy.
{7} But then you all knew I was going to say this didn't you ?
{8} Contemplate the Japanese inter-changeability of 'l' and 'r'
and then the name of the Russian alphabet. Still confused ?
Cyrillic => Sylia (well I thought it was a neat twist :-) ).
{9} Dare one say 'Ripley' and 'power loader' here ? Thought so.
{10} "Undocumented Features" - Edison Bell's description of Omega-2
Appologies to the UF crew for a pinching the idea.
Many thanks must go to
Gryphon, Zoner, ReRob, R-Type, Ryan Mathews, PcHammer, Mako
and all the other contributers to U.F., long may it continue.
=======================================================================
Author's Epilogue :
Well what do you think ?
Should I continue ?
If you've noticed certain similarities with Tokyo Babylon then please
read Mark Latus' comments in Chapter 0.
Also read Chapter 0 for details of how this mess came to be.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Robin Smith 1995 mackie@ktsabers.demon.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<--- End include --->
-- Mackie Stingray (Robin Smith) Guess who's a BGC fan, sorry no prizes
^[$B%m%S%s^[(J ^[$B%9%_%9^[(J Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Miyazaki, Sonoda, Shirow, Suzuki, Takahashi, Matsumoto All Hail UF
Author of "BGC: The Tempest Chronicles" WANTED: GSC#1 GSC#2 by Dark Horse