BTW folks, in this chapter you will run into <name>.  It appears because I 
couldn't come up with a good street name.  Help please.

Also the part dealing with "Land of illusions" should Tina sing mainly with the 
holograms doing the show, or should she dance live?

=======================================================================

Chapter 2:  2ND CONTACT PART 1

It was one of Priss and the Replicants nights off.  As a change of
pace Priss decided to be part of the audience instead of in front
of it.  Also she wanted to check out this new act that would be
playing some nights  and preceding hers on others.  While
confident no one could take her top billing at the Hot Legs club
until she was ready to leave, it didn't hurt to make sure.  This
group was called L. A. Tina, with the L and A pronounced
separately.  The bartender had caught some of their rehearsals.
"They do a lot of classic rock from the  1970's 80's and a few
90's stuff.  But  they put a new twists to them.  You probably
going to like them Priss."

"Huh we will see." was the moody singers reply.

The canned music faded out.  The stage was completely dark.
Then a single voice stated "What are you looking at???"  Then a
spot light hit a fairly tall woman was of to one side of the stage.
She was playing keyboards. She had long iron gray hair only she
didn't look that old.  She had a dancers body.  The dress she
wore looked like it was made to allow free movement.  As she
played the intro a second spot illuminated a drum set just as set
of bongos where played.  The light showed a petite woman
seated there. This one had black hair and looked French, the
beret she was wearing adding to the image.  As a bass line
started  third spot revealed a man using some odd
keyboard/gutair combinations.  It had two necks and was
connected to some sort of amplifier/computer set up.  *Looks
like something Nene would play*  After the third spot came up
the male took over melody as the gray haired woman danced
and sang.  Priss finally recognized the song as "Vogue"
originally done by someone named "Madonna".  With the
melody chores being taken care of she began to dance. "She
can move!!" The dancer was also the lead singer.  The drummer
was also singing back up. The lights were in sync to music.
When the line about "bump and grind it" the woman managed to
be sexy without slutty.  Then as she moved to a part that listed
some old stars the holograms started.  Some where poster size
others where life-size and yet more were larger  than life.  She
appeared to dance with a few of them.  The final of echo of
"Vogue" ended the song.  The crowd sounded their approval.

"Hello everyone we are L. A. Tina!!  The L stands for Louis, our
guitar/synth player."  With a quick raising of her eyebrows she
added "He's French ladies"  at that Louis played a few bars of
the French national anthem.  Laughing the gray haired woman
continued.  "The A stands for Angelique.  Guess what guys.
SHE'S French too!!!" A quick drum riff followed that remark.
She looked like she was going to continue when someone in the
crowd shouted "What are you!!"

"Well someone had to ask.  I'm Tina, of course.  Now we got
some other songs waiting for you.  This next one is a favorite
one of Louis, mainly because he gets to play lead."

"It is called the Southern Cross"


 At this point the stage was backlit  and the image of  a sailing
ship appeared over the stage.  The man steering it appeared to
resemble Louis.  It became obvious that there was a
"connection" between Louis and the  drummer.  Every time the
refrain came around with the line "Who knows loves can endure"
he was looking right at the drummer.  Who returned the look.

The holograms were telling a story from the song.  A part dealt
with people being lied and cheated.  Priss frowned.  The "bad
guys" had the appearance of several public Genom executives,
including Chairman Quency.

Priss looked thoughtful *Now that _IS_ a twist, using classic rock
to jab at current problems*

"All right folks, that was one of our soft numbers.  Now for one of
our harder numbers


(Touch and Go, Emerson Lake and Powell)
Again the keyboards sounded.  This time there was power and
some anger in the cords.

[Man in the street, nowhere to sleep,
No time for nothing no Patek Phillip.]

Tina appeared to be concentrating full on the keyboards.  Priss
found, to her surprise, that she was disappointed.  She had liked
the dancing that this Tina had done, she wanted to see more.
Then another hologram showed up.  It was Tina in the same
outfit she had on stage.

[Pedal to the metal
Blow by Blow, you're running with the devil its Touch and go]

The holographic Tina was in perfect sync with the music.

The song conjured images of despair, but Tina's dance also held
hope, fighting on

[All systems go!! Friend or Foe, It's all depending on the dice
you throw.
Come without a warning like a UFO.
You're running with the devil, it's touch and go.]

With the final cord the live band members and the hologram all
bowed in unison.

Without pause they started again with the music

The keyboards where now moody, gradually building up.  A
hologram of Angelique appeared over the stage.  She was
dressed like a W.W.II resistance fighter.  While you never saw
the face of who she was carrying, she was picking up and
moving a wounded person to a place of safety.  She then picked
up an object and moved on.  As the line "Through the night,
Through the dawn" sounded out you could see her advancing to
some unknown objective.  You could see her at times stopping
and launching fire arrows, at other times passing messages or
leaving signs for others to follow.  Numerous times she was
threatened or attacked by Nazi troopers who resembled
boomers.  Each time she escaped both with help and on her
own.  Sometimes she had a clear-cut victory, others she just
barely escaped with her life.  But always moving forward.  As the
song neared its end you could see that she was not alone, more
people of all races and walks of life were with her off to both
sides.  Finally one of the Nazi-boomers knocked her down.  It
was obvious that she was to injured to fight anymore.  The
boomer stood in a sadistic pose ready to deliver the death blow.
Then another girl, about the height of the one Angelique had
helped, attacked, managing to destroy the boomer.  This new
girl moved Angelique  to a place of safety she took the same
object that Angelique had been given.  This new girl left to
continue the fight.

Land of Illusions



"Now folks we only got time for one more song.  The original
group was called "Bon Jovi" and the song is 'Wanted Dead or
Alive'.  The lights had dimmed.  The music started.  Louis synth
was now sounded like a standard guitar


[It's all the same
only the names have changed
everyday it seams that we're are wasting away
another place where the faces are so cold
I travel all night, just to get back home]

Matching the first lines shots of various infamous people  were
shown, again several public executives of Genom where
included.  Then the images shifted to scenes from around Mega-
Tokyo mixed with shots of Tina driving a van through the sprawl.

[I'm a cowgirl, on a steel horse I ride
because I'm wanted dead or alive
wanted dead or alive]

Now the images  showed all of the group riding motorcycles.

[Sometimes I sleep, sometimes not for days
the people I meet always go their separate ways.
Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle that you drink
and time when you're alone and all you do is think]

More images of the Sprawl, showing people talking leaving etc..
The final part of the sequence show Tina drinking in a thoughtful
mood.

[I'm a cowgirl, on a steel horse I ride
because I'm wanted dead or alive
wanted dead or alive]

[Oh and I ride]

Tina leaped from her position.  As she danced her movements
started like a person who was downtrodden, beaten.  But as she
continued she showed more fire and emotion, becoming Defiant,
showing that defeat was one thing but breaking her was another.
The dance also had a subtle message, anyone could be doing
as she was.  With a final spin and leap she was back at her
keyboards.

[As I walk these streets, a loaded keyboard on my back
I play for keeps, because I might not make it back
I've been every where, still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all]

[I'm a cowgirl, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
I'm a cowgirl, I've got the night on my side
I'm wanted dead or alive
wanted dead or alive]

[And I ride]

[Still I ride.]

Priss turned back to the bar sipping her drink.  No, she was still
number one here.  But number two was a lot closer than she
liked.  Still this LA Tina had guts.  Some of those songs where
presented in a blatantly anti-Genom style.  And they got some of
the people pumped up.

The canned music started again.  Priss smiled to herself when it
was a recording of one of her songs.  Looking back up at the
stage she could just make out LA Tina breaking down.  Tina
looked like she was listening to her song.  Suddenly she broke
into a few steps of dance.  Then she looked wistful and
continued the packing.

A few minutes later there were sounds as people were
congratulating Tina as she advanced to the bar.  She was
friendlier than Priss tended to be after a show.

Suddenly Priss heard a familiar voice, a voice she had hopped
would never come back here.  It was <name> of the Sly-B's, a
bunch of Outrider wanta-be's.  Frequently called the Slime-balls
by others they lived up to that name.  Unfortunately they could
still be trouble.  <name> had made a pass at Priss early in her
stay at Hot Legs.  She had stopped him with a well placed kick.
After she had dazzled them with some driving brilliance she
hadn't had any problem.  Of course using her boomer buster on
a few of their bikes helped.

<name> had made his pass on Tina,  there was nothing subtle
or smooth about it.  *Jerk,  Try using a different set of lines*,
came across Priss's mind as she watched.

Tina laughed.  "You know, some of those things just might be
interesting except for a few things."

Tina jabbed <name> in the chest, surprisingly hard, staggering
him.  "I like my partners clean, as in bathing more than once a
month or when it rains"

When <name> tried to slap her the word "bitch" died in his
throat.  This is because Tina had gotten his hand in a "come
along" hold.
"And I prefer to get it on with full human beings.  I'm not sure
you qualify."  Tina then walked <name> to a bouncer who was
trying to work his way through the crowd.  "And I think you are
leaving"

The look that <name> was giving Tina promised several forms
of mayhem.  Priss, who had quietly moved over to watch saw
that Tina was unafraid.  During the transfer to the bouncer there
was a moment when neither was holding him.  <name> pulled a
knife and tried to slash Tina with it.  She simply leaned back and
started a circular motion.  She used this motion to dodge the
next slash, then with out breaking rhythm she launched a kick
into <name>'s belly.  He folded, dropping the knife.  The
bouncer then literally threw  <name> out.  And apologized for
the attack.

The laughing, friendly Tina was back.  "No problem.  My Aunt
Karen would have turned him over and given you the knife at
the same time."

Tina headed back to the bar.  "A rum and coke please.  Plus two
white wines.  If you don't have them then two "Becks" please."
Then she turned and noticed Priss examining her.  "Pretty fast
moves for a grey haired lady" the Knight Saber said.

"Oh this? Family trait, My father, both my brothers and my sister
have it as well.  Daddy says he remembered his father having it
too."

"Well those were some good moves you pulled back there.
Watch it though.  He won't take a one time No for an answer.
You might have to hurt him or scare him one more time.  I know
from experience."

"Why thank you Priss."

Priss startled but quickly recovered.  "How did you know who I
am?  I'm not dressed for my act."

"No but I've seen your posters. They're all over the place.  When
you program holograms as much as I do you learn to observe
details."

"You did all of those holograms yourself?"

"No Louis and Angelique also work on them.  It is a group
effort."

"Should our ears be burning?"  a French accented voice asked.

Tina turned to the others, a smile on her face."  Ah!!  The initials
of the band have arrived.  Everything put away?"

Angelique responded, "But of course!!  But what is the rumors
we heard as we came back in?  Did you have problems?  And
who is this lady with you."

The French woman's gaze reminded Priss  a little of when Leon
was asking her for a date.  When Priss thought about it the
French guy had the same look as well.  Before she could reply
though Tina broke in.

"This is Priss of Priss and the Replicants, Angel.  The act we will
be fronting for some nights.  And ease off on her will you? I
swear you got Louis, he should be enough for you."  Angelique
said something in what Priss assumed was French.  Tina kept
her reply in Japanese, "I prefer it one-on-one.  And you know I
don't swing that way.  But you get first shot if I every change my
mind."

Turning back to Priss, Tina added, "Angelique does try to
perpetuate that particular stereotype about the French, with her
own twist.  Don't worry, unlike that idjit earlier, she knows what
NO means."

Priss, in spite of herself was finding that she liked this strange
trio.

After the trio had finished their drinks  ("When did the Hot Legs
carry wine?" Priss asked herself) Tina excused them.  "We got
to go now.  There is still some tweaking that we need to do for
the holograms and  that means an early start.  Later Priss, glad
to meet you."

"Well I guess I will have something interesting to talk about at
the meeting tomorrow" Priss mused as they left.

============================

Nene loved the net.  She just wished that her job at APD would
let her go full interface like this, but no, their budget would not
allow that for anyone but the very top ranked computer cops.
Fortunately the interface technology that allowed the Knight
Sabers armor to be so effective could also be used for net
running.  It allowed her to be just as effective as someone with
an interface plug.  Still the fact that the higher ups wouldn't let
her do what she did best rankled her.  "It's so unfair" her icon
muttered.

"Repeat Password" the Guarding Giant said.

*Darn, shouldn't be woolgathering in the net. *

She repeated the password.  Then she evaded this special
nodes protective ICE to enter a "Virtual Club".  Every big city
had at least one place like this for the cream of the local hackers
world.  And Nene was definitely a part of it.

Tonight she was just playing with the bits so her icon was
"herself" a cute fuzzy bear riding a cute scooter.  Despite the
image the others, treated her with friendly respect.  Anyone who
could get into this mode knew hacking and netrunning.  Icons
made no difference.  Of course if she had come as the Knight
Saber it was different, That icon incorporated elements of all
four of the Sabers suits and had some very nasty attack
software that this set lacked.   Nene may be the weakest KS in
meat world combat, but the armor persona was pure hell on
wheels in a netfight.  But Sylia made Nene promise to keep that
interface at the KS HQ.  Besides she liked everyone friendly
instead of wary.

"Hello Cyberbear."  The virtual bartender greeted her.  Like
many other icons it was not human  "Looking for anything in
particular?  I'm still working on that VR chocolate cake, no go
though.  I worked out the glitch in the sukaki.  And the
Americans tell me the bar-b-q is just like the real thing."  Then
remembering her stated fondness for deserts he added  "Oh and
the cheesecake appears to run OK."

"Thanks Smaug (who did look like the Tolken dragon), but it
simulates the ONLY type of cheesecake I don't like."

In cyberspace it is possible for a dragon to look sad.

After chatting on the more recent rumors Nene was attracted by
a commotion over by the view booth.  Putting over there she
asked "What gives."

"Possible new join coming in," said a Conan the Barbarian
clone, "Must have some of that new European stuff we've been
hearing about, broke the password code almost has fast has
your first run Cyberbear"

"What?"  Nene's record had stood for quite a while.  While it still
was not broken this was the first time someone came close.

"That is an interesting icon, a skunk in Renaissance dress"
someone observed.

"Good quality too" added a Statue.

"She must like to dance, that is what her evading program looks
like"

"Or can't and this is the closest she can come to it for real"  said
a Sumo wrestler.  Nene knew were this one was coming from.
She had seen his meat body.  It was scrawy.

"Opps she tripped Otto"

"Still might get in, about half that do trip him can still get in"

"Well look at that, a sword.  Ran him through right quick too.
Must be a real heavy weight program."

The rest of the obstacles were easily taken care of.

"Well it was not the fastest first run   Cyberbear still has that
honor  but she has made the top 10, at number 10." said Smaug
from the bar

With that those near the door and in the observation booth
applauded the skunk as she entered.

She still had the rapier in her hand.  She saluted the applause
with a flourish and then sheathed the weapon."

Nene pushed her icon over toward the skunk.  *Got to meet her,
she makes the third woman, or woman icon to make the list.  If
she is constantly that good I'm going to have to upgrade the KS
computer's defenses, not to mention my private APD stuff."
Nene had done that everytime someone new had made the Top
Ten list and stayed there for a while.

"Hi!  I'm Cyberbear!  What is your handle?"

"Well I like to go by a old nickname, I'm Little Stinker."

"Little Stinker?"

"Hey what else would you call a skunk?"

The two women sized each other up.  Both knew that just getting
into this place took a high level of skill.  But the also noted that
the others icon was very well detailed, showing just as much
emotion and smoothness as a real person would.

"You have a point Little Stinker, what brings you here, the
challenge?"  Nene wondered why the other started a bit over her
statement.

"In part, also this type of place is the best for checking out the
local networld."

Nene "drove" over to a virtual table.  "Yes Smaug's Cave is the
place to be in Mega-Tokyo for that stuff.  And he even serves
virtual drinks.  Doesn't have all of them perfect but he keeps
trying.  Watch it though, you can get just as drunk here as in a
real bar."