BGC: Beat of Defiance

Chapter 3:  2nd Contact part 2


The bell on the door of "Silky Doll" tinkled.

As Sylia came out of the back area she heard a French accented voice state, "What did I tell you Tina?"

"VERY nice indeed, your eye is still good Angel"

"Oui, how could you doubt me.  Now help me find something to help entertain Louis"

"Hmmm with those criteria, and based on some of your past choices, how about this?"

As Sylia moved to where she could see the floor of her shop she noted the item that a customer was holding.  It was one of her more daring bits of inventory, well suited for "entertaining" a boyfriend or husband  * "Or maybe both if that accent is a real French one" * she thought with a wiry twist of her lip.  * "It is fortunate that Mackie is working on the van.  His hormones just might not be able to handle these two." *

She then frowned.  There was something familiar about these two, but she was quite sure she had never met them before.

"How much time do we have Angel?"

"We've got plenty, remember Louis went to that tech show?"

As she moved to assist she subtlety studied the two.  * "Tall, grey hair but young, grey eyes, an American by her accent." *

Sylia remembered Priss being unusually enthusiastic about a new group that was playing at the "Hot Legs" Club.  When Priss was finished Nene had playfully suggested they hire them for PR  purposes.  They all had a good laugh at that one.

Still the American matched the description Priss had given.  And the other woman could be the drummer of the band.

As she approached the pair Sylia heard them talking about music and "gigs"  The conformation came when the shorter one said, after looking the "item", "Mon Deu,  I best save that one until after the show Tina, or mon petite Louis will be to exhausted to perform."

* "Yes these must be two thirds of that group Priss was telling us about during the meeting.  This Louis must be the third member. *  Aloud  she said "Yes this is a very good choice.  If you need further assistance feel no hesitation to call for me."

The tall grey haired one when to get a few things for herself.

When they were ready to pay and leave Sylia found herself looking at a Platinum Visa card.  * "A mystery, how could a bar singer, no matter how good, get a platinum card?" *  Subtly she activated the copy program she and Nene had installed in the register, just for such occasions.

Alone in the store, after the two women had left with their purchases, Sylia pondered.  *"A new performing group arrives in Mega-Tokyo, the lead singer of which has a very high credit rating.  In addition we have this new mercenary on the scene.  Bands come and go all the time, but the timing is of interest.  Plus powered armor requires support, and band members frequently have other talents than music. Musicians have very flexible hours except on a performance date.  Even then they have been known to cancel at a moments notice, Priss has complained about that often enough. Is the arrival of Defiance and this L.A. Tina a coincidence or are they related?  Must prod Fargo and check out this credit card number. *

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Linna was walking back toward the staff lounge after her morning class when she noted something out of place.  Looking through the windowed wall of the Martial arts practice area (it was not a proper dojo by any measure) she saw a woman doing warm up exercises.  Not unusual but she was doing a _dancers_ warm up, not what a martial artist would normally do.  For some reason the club management was positively anal about dancing being done in the dancing/arobics area and martial arts in their own area.  Staff members had been told constantly to enforce this rule.  Sighing to herself Linna entered to tell the woman to move to a proper area.

"I'm sorry ma'am, club policy.  Aerobics and dance are to be done in the designated areas.  This area is for marital arts."  The woman rose to her feet.  Linna noted how tall she was and her hair was grey. * But it looks good on her *

"But I am going to be doing some martial arts practice.  It's just that my style incorporates a lot of dance elements in it.  I've found that using dance warm ups helps."  Then she asked "And how do you know the difference in warm up styles?"

Linna shook off a moment of sadness.  "I've had experience with both.  What style do you use?"

The grey haired one said "It is called Capuara, it comes from Brazil originally."

Linna shook her head.   "I've never heard of that one before."

"Well with all the styles here in the East it would be easy to miss it in the crowd.  Would you like a little match?  I haven't found anyone willing to spar with me."

"Well my next class isn't until this afternoon and I do have a bit of free time..."  Then Linna realized that she didn't know this persons name, and she hadn't asked Linna what style she used herself.  When Linna tried to correct this the reply she got was "Call me Tina, and why don't you surprise me?"

Linna moved to a ready stance.  * OK Lady, we'll keep it friendly but let's see what you got *

Linna started with a simple foot sweep, feeling out this Tina's defenses.  Tina leaped and spun over the attack, the spin setting up a counter strike which Linna easily blocked.  Linna was suprised by the speed of Tina's follow up strike.  Linna managed to block it although bearly in time.  Then Linna's own counter caused Tina to dodge.  Tina turned this dodge into a cartwheel away from Linna.

Linna noted the the follow-up strike, athough in fine control, still had a lot of power behind it.  * "Hey, she is stronger than she looks." * flashed by Linna's mind.  * "Even considering that dancers have to stay in good shape" *

As the match continued a few things became obvious to the women (and the few expert martial artist who were watching)

Overall the two were evenly matched.  Tina had an edge in reaction time and strength (although only Linna was aware of just how strong), Linna had a higher level of skill that evened the field

[ Authors note:  Need more moves/action for the match  Help?]

The two combatants were focused fully on each other, not noticing the crowd that was now watching them.  Both had smiles for the contest they were having.  This was better than a good workout.  This  was a contest between two very evenly matched people.

The end was not what either would have expected.  Linna faked another foot sweep then moved to do a throw/pin.  At exactly the same moment Tina did a handstand and tried to do a knockdown.  Somehow both got tangled up with the other.  They flopped onto the floor, their training kicking in just in time to allow them to fall without injuring themselves.

For a moment the just sat there staring at each other.  Then one, they never figured out who, started chuckling.  The other followed suit.  Soon they were rolling on the mat laughing their heads off.

It was the most fun either had ever had during a match.

"Do you want to do this regularly?" asked Tina when she could talk again.

"Well it would be fun, plus we could teach each other some of our styles.  Tell you what, let me check my schedule for the next month and I'll call you.  Let me have your number."

After they exchanged numbers Linna asked, "Were did you learn that anyhow."

Tina smiled in memory.  "In Dallas Texas, my father insisted that all of his children know how to defend themselves.  Because he was a retired Marine he started us out with the hand to hand style the Corps teaches in Boot Camp.  We all enjoyed it but I was the only one to continue past the basics.  Our trainer talked to one of our 'Special Aunts' who helped me find the style that was best for me."

"Special Aunts?"

"My father has collected a rather unusual group of friends.  Many of them became as close as real Aunts and Uncles.  I still call them Aunt or Uncle so and so when I see them."

"Well that is nice, I lost my family in the big quake."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Tina broke it.  "I'm sorry if I woke up any bad memories"

Linna shook her head.  "No, It still hurts some but they wouldn't want me to be down.  Nothing for you to be sorry about."  Then she looked at the clock.  "Oh great, I've got to shower and be ready for the next class.  Thanks for the match Tina."

Tina looked at Linna's retreating back.  * "You have ghosts Linna, but you appear to have them under control.  Maybe you can help me with some of mine." *

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Sylia was getting more intrigued.  Sylia knew she was good, there was no ego involved in that fact.  But she also knew her limits.  The defences she was facing were beyond her skills and she was not going to get any closer to the truth on her own.

She disengaged the equiptment but remained on the couch as she reviewed what she had been able to discover.

* The money to pay for this account comes from several sources, all of them with the smell of being laundered.  This would indicate mega-corp involvement to some degree.  But it is not Genom, I know most of their fronts and can recognize the style of any new ones." *

Leaving her "computer couch" and stretching Sylia continued her train of thought.

* The account name is an alias, Tina Charline.  But that is not unusual for performers.  But it would take Nene to get any further.  They were subtle but I know there are triggers on that account. *

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Tina's comm unit rang.  As it was 0300 local time, and she had just gotten to bed, she was not in a good mood.

"This had better be important!!" she snarled.

"Is that any way to talk to your former womb mate?"  came a cheerful reply.

The screen showed a man with grey hair.  Any one viewing both him and Tina would realize that they were indeed related.

"Alex, for once I wish you would check the time zones.  Its three in the morning here.  I did a show tonight and I just got to bed."

"Sorry.  But remember this next time you call me and they tell you I'm in surgery."

"OK OK point made.  Now that I am awake, what is the occasion for the call."  

"How has your 'Special Project' been going?"

Tina was wary now.  "Some progress, as you know from my last report.  Why have you found something new?"

"I think so.  Dad asked me to be at the new cyber plant opening up in Osaka so I thought I would stop by, maybe visit for a while."

"Just how much luggage are we talking about.  And how are he and Mom doing?"

"They're doing OK, but he still has some pain.  He says he can handle it but he is taking the medication a little more often.  Mom's a rock as always.  They said to tell you they enjoyed the holo recording of your show."

"If You can point me to what we hope to find here, I might be able to come home for a while.  Maybe I can do a private show for them."

"As to your question about luggage, I will be bringing all my suits."  He had a slight emphases on the last word."

"I see, OK I'll make the proper arrangements then.  Wait until you meet Louis and Angelique."

"I look forward to it, well I'll let you get back to sleep, Later Tina, I'll E-mail you my arrival date and time."