Ok you three.  I did a little something and decided to show you the front 
piece I wrote for #13.  It's attached at the bottom.  Oh.  And I liked 
the part you did Twister, but I felt it needed something more ironic.  I 
hope you like it.

***

She fainted.

THREE DAYS LATER...

For the life of an ADP officer, everything ran according to a set routine. 
Get up in the morning, get to work, fill out a report, answer a call, fill out
a report, get lunch, fill out a report, etc.  Upstairs was always wanting
report after report after report.

Most of which added up to a mound of manure for all the 'help, resources, and
support' that was promised but never given.

As Chief Inspector Ichinohei sat at her desk, downing her first (at least at
work) cup of coffee, she went over that paperwork, wishing there was some way
for it to just vanish.  As usual, she was making notes, comments, and a list
of requested material which she knew would never be looked at, ordered, or
filled.  The political machine just refused to admit what was going on, what
had been happening to this city since the Kanto earthquake.  with the
exception of a few individuals, such as the Emperor, the entire political
machine, the machine that had kept Japan moving and growing for nearly 75
years, had turned a blind eye to the death and destruction that was happening.

Learning back and rubbing her eyes, she noted that she had drained her coffee
again.  Something that was happening more and more frequently, to the point
where people had given her a 'cup appropriate to last you five minutes'.  Said
cup was one of the novelty store types that was as big as a puch bowl and kept
hung up on one wall.

*Amaterasu protect me.  I'm getting worse.*  She thought to herself as she
reached behind her for the carafe pot that contained her unusually strong
blend of coffee.  *It used to be that a cup of coffee would last me twenty
minutes or so.  Now I can't even remember drinking it.*

Looking at the coffee she just poured herself, she wondered how in the world
she managed to get through each day, each hour without going crazy.  It wasn't
just the paperwork which, goddess above, seemed to increase with each passing
day, but that no one seemed to care that the Advanced Police were getting the
shit kicked out of them.  People, PEOPLE under her command were dying and they
were not a set of damn statistics which some of the people refered to them to. 
Each and everyone of those officers had a name, a family they were a part of
and she was the one who had to put on the stern, seemingly uncaring attitude
to keep the department running.

Her memories went back suddenly to some of the first lessons that Oneiko and
her were thought, especially the one lesson which had come to define her life,
"The true test of command is being able to track of all the small details. 
Despite what they may look like at the time, ignorance of them will cause your
defeat."

She brought up a list which no one knew was stored on her computer.  When she
had first started to rise in the ranks, she had bought an old WORM drive,
circa 1998.  An oddity and a rarity since everyone tended to use either
magneto-opticals or data-blocks.  She had installed the worm on her machine
and every officer who died, every person who was in some way injured under her
command, she added it, the persons record and history, and most important
their age.  It was a record of the people who she considered societies true
heros.

People who had given their lives to persue the course of protecting innocents
without going outside the law.

*There are definately times that I envy the Knight Sabers,* Hitomi thought to
herself.  *Despite the fact that they are mercinaries, they can at least take
their fustrations out on something, somebody.  I may hate doing this, but I
have got to try to bring them in.*

"I think I should have listened to Oneechan and gone into the family
business,"  she muttered to herself.

***

Bert sighed as he looked over the list of 'things to do' that Anri had left on
his desk.  When he had hired her on as one of the clubs managers, he hadn't
expected her to be so efficient.  At first, it was as a gesture of friendship,
not to mention the fact that if he hadn't offered the job to Anri, Priss would
have rammed her autocannon down his throat.  Besides, he could keep an eye on
her and make sure that she was relatively safe as she still had some
flashbacks to when she was raped.  Once a week, he came to regret that
impulsive descision since Anri _always_, without fail, brought him a list of
things that needed to be fixed up, ordered, replaced, repaired, or what not. 
It also seemed like that list was getting bigger every week.

Not for the first time, he wondered if listening to everyone and starting his
own business was the best idea.  Oh, it provided an excellent cover, no doubt
about that especially since they had a custom sports shop that made equipment
to the users specifications.  No one had yet questioned how much material
entered the building and never left it, at least not by the usual route. 
Also, being situated in one of the more afluent neiborhoods, no one actually
expected his place to be hiding anything.

The one advantage of the place was that he had been able to build a complex
that he had in mind.  One that combined elements from the Sabers base with
elements of various anime, manga, and movies.  Below the main complex, which
included a double basement, was his private sanctum.  A place where he could
relax and get away from it all while still persuing his researches.

He leaned back in his chair, smiling as his mind drifted over the four story
lair that he had created.  If Sylia ever saw the full extent of his 'little'
shop, she would probably strangle him at first opportunity.  Of course, he
still had to tell two other people about the complex.

Since Nene was at work, he decided to start with Priss, who, of course, would
come with Sylvie.  Well, why not.  The Sabers were the only family he had in
this time period and he really had nothing to hide from them, at least not for
long.  Of course, seeing the look of surprise on their faces at some of the
things he came up with was fun.

Taking a big gulp of his tea, he open a comm channel to Priss's appartment. 
Surprisingly, he got her machine.  Given the fact that she was never an early
riser, as a matter of fact she thought of noon as being 'Still way too early',
he was surprised.  In fact, he hadn't seen her since they ran the tests three
days ago.  He decided to try the new communications system.

Touching the Sabers, he said, "Priss."

He waited for about thirty seconds before a slightly perspiring brown-haired
face answered his call.  "What is it Bert?"

Bert was a bit surprised and did his best to cover it.  "I just wanted to know
if you would like a tour of my new lair."

"New lair?  You mean you built another lab?"

"Yep!  It's situated under the club.  I thought you might like to see it and
give me some input on what it still needs."

Priss's image look chagrined for a moment, and she said, "I'm on a _vacation_
at the moment.  I'll take a look at it when I get back into the city."

"Wait a second, you're not even in the city?"

"Nope!  I needed to get away for a while.  I should be back in about a week or
so.  Don't worry, I'll keep in touch."

The communications faded as Bert wondered what could get Priss to take a non
enforced vacation.

***

Hollister wondered what Doc wanted.

After showing him his discoveries about the Knight Sabers and Skyknight,
Ikagawashii face had grown thoughtful, and curiously, suspicious.  He had then
told the blond haired man that he wanted to examine all possible pictures and
files about the Knight Sabers in order to get a good idea what was going on. 
As if it wasn't obvious enough that the silver garbed Knight Saber was the
test subject for all the new technologies and devices before it was
incorporated into the other hardsuits.

Knowing the laser array system was at first part of an X-Wing fighter,
Hollister started to see that most of the items that SkyKnight first used were
from the Star Wars saga's and therefore, from Bert.  He was selling or giving
his technology, to these people, of which SkyKnight embodied the ideals the
Jedi were supposed to uphold.  It was very possible that these parts came
ready made to be added to the hardsuits at a given time.  It would also mean
that Bert had access to a laboratory or shop somewhere that was not
noticeable, but near enough for him to get to when needed.  The Club, which
had been a probability, was dismissed as being much to ironic to be possibly
used for such a purpose.  It gave too good a cover for whatever meetings he
had with his friends.  They needed to get some scanning devices into that
place as soon as possible.

Doc chose that moment to walk in, not bothering with knocking, and closed the
door behind him.  "We might have a way of getting hold of SkyKnight's
technology, if you are willing to play a gambit."

"What do you mean?"  Holister asked.

"I mean that there have been at least three different SkyKnights, and I think
at lest two of the blue Knight Sabers."  The white haired scientist smiled as
Hollisters jaw dropped open.  "First, the person originally known as SkyKnight
was known to assist the police as offten as possible.  He was badly hurt,
possibly killed, in a battle with Dobbermans from which his body was dragged
away.  The second SkyKnight emulated the first, but at times acted as if he
did not know how to control his suit properly.  He overcame that and it is
suspected that a Leftenant Natasha Rutherford was responsible for assisting
him while losing her own life in the process.  This was also the first time
that those lightsabers were seen in public, during a battle with a new type of
boomer which also had such an attachment by all accounts.  SkyKnight then
disappeared for a while and the first time he reappeared, he attacked members
of the ADP, which his predecessors failed to do."

"From this, several conclusions can be reached.  The first SkyKnight was
someone they had just recruited into the ranks of the Knight Sabers.  A person
who was idealistic and naive.  When he died or retired, they replaced him with
a person who had similar ideals, but was more used to controling a suit of
powered armour.  It is also probable that he was a member of an armoured
battalion which is why Natasha Rutherford was on the scene with a new type of
battle armour.  The latest SkyKnight appeared after the attack on our base. 
SkyKnight was not seen for a while so I would assume that the second one was
killed when you blew up the base."

Doc smiled as he saw Hollister get the idea.

"We see if we can get one of our people recruited as a possible replacement."

Hollister loved the idea.

***

For Bubblegum Zone Alternate History 13

***

"Wolf's Place was an out of the way bar down near the edges of the rift that
formed the Canyon.  The people who attended the place were not the nicest of
people normally, but, for some indescribable reason, remained civil and
somewhat respectable in this establishment.  According to the owner, a person
who was only known as White Wolf, this was because it was probably the only
business that was willing to serve them.

This particular night was a little different than normal however.  The patrons
were more nervous than usual.  There was an air of cautious anticipation and
fear running through the air as mumured speculation rose as to the truth of
several rumours running around the city.

It had started a few months earlier, with the rumours of two new armoured
figured that used swords to take care of boomers.  No-one knew where they came
from, although the people were female, and more were curious about their
ability to seemingly disappear from a confrontation scene. Finaly, no one had
figured out how they were able to do the most amazing physical feats with no
sign of exhaust ports on the armour.  This smacked of a brand new technology,
something that people and corporations were will to pay big bucks for.

At about that same time, the ADP, which had been considered somewhat of a joke
among the police and security forces of Japan, had suddenly started to become
competant in thier jobs.  They were using more of themselves, had lower
casualty rates, and, amazingly, making more arrests that stuck.  Knowing how
badly they were supplied, this pointed more to a change somewhere in the
department starting with attitude.  This did not bode well for most patrons.

Tonight however, the rumour mill had been carrying the rediculous story
around.  Although some were taking it seriously, it had to be a lie.  Somehow,
word was getting around about some new special employee of the city's most
technologically advanced police department.  It seems that ADP had recruited a
new inspector to there ranks that was a Jedi Knight.  Wolf himself was hiding
a grin as the people asked him what he thought of this.

"Hey!  Don't ask me.  I try to stay out of trouble and away from the cops.  If
they want to come in here, I'll take their money like I take anyone elses, but
I doubt that a _Jedi_ would ever appear around here."  he chuckled to one of
the patron seated at the bar.  "After all, since when do film characters come
to life?"

The patron, a young black haired man in his mid-twenties, thought this over
for a moment.  Wolf's comments made a little bit of sense, but his living
depended on the police being incompetent.  A competent inspector would change
things, much less one who was reputed to have some type of supernatural
powers.  He downed his drink as he considered that the rumour had only started
this morning with no evidence to back it up as of yet.  He turned to face the
entrance as a person steped through the door and he choocked on his drink.

White Wolf turned around to see what the trouble was and if he would have to
perfom the Heimlich Manouver.  When he saw the person that had come in the
door, striding towards the bar, he droped the bottle of rye that he had been
holding.  The smashing bottle caused people around the bar to look up and
several gasps of astonishment could be heard.

The figure, which stood at least 6 and a half feet tall was wearing dark
boots, black gloves, and a black volumous cloak that provided his head with
some cover.  It was nearly impossible to see the persons face, as the area
where the head was seemed to absorb light.  What little of the face that could
be seen was young and calm, but with a seriousness and a look of having seen
too much around the eyes.

The man seemed to radiate his being a soldier or a warrior of some type; but
not from any modern war.  He seemed to have the carriage of a minor noble,
with a straight back, and proper grace and manners.  He did not so much walk
as glide across the floor, no movements to rise and fall evident as it would
have been in a normal persons walk.  At the same time, these ancient seeming
attitudes were combined with something in his stance that said that he was
experienced with things far beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.  As if
he had been in the future but was adjusting to being in this time period.

That combined with a badge and the silver and black tube visible at his right
hip marked him for who he was, although it seemed unbeleivable.

The ADP Jedi had just walked into Wolf's Place.

SkyKnight Productions
Proudly Presents
A NonTechnical Film
MegaTokyo 2035
The Knight Sabers
"An Alternate History of The Bubblegum Zone - Episode #13"
Copyright (c) 1996 Bert Van Vliet, Darren Stefler

The characters of SkyKnight, Bert Van Vliet, Holister, Doctor Ikagawashii and
Hitomi Ichinohei are Copywrite (c) 1995, 1996 Bert Van Vliet

The characters of Twister, Darlene Stefanson, and Natsumi are Copywrite (c)
1994, 1996 Darren Steffler.

The characters of Ranma are Copywrite (c) 1987, 1996 Rumiko Takahashi

The characters of Master Skywalker, Skywalker, Solo, Jedi, Master Yoda, and
Star Wars are Copywrite (c) 1976, 1996 George Lucas

The characters of White Wolf are Copywrite (c) 1995, 1996 Hitomi Ichinohei

Written by Ichinohei Hitomi


[much later, after Twister's part in writing.]

"Fortunately for you,"  Bert grinned, "I do need someone here now, especially
since I'm an ADP Inspector.  I just hope you can put up with Anri's
efficiency."

Twister's eyebrow raised.  "You?  A member of the ADP?  Don't you see enough
of Nene on her off hours?"


At that Bert flushed, causing the brown haired young man to chuckle at the
others discomfiture.  "Ahem.  Getting back to that, I think I should get you
some clothes.  Wearing that suit would raise some eyebrows around here."

Bert left the room and quickly came back with a suit bag as well as a small
pitcher of water.  Not giving Twister a chance to ask why he had brought the
water, Bert dumped it on the psyonist head.  "Well, I think these will fit you
now,"  He chucled at a wet, glaring Darlene.  "The only clothes around here
that I had access to and might possibly fit were for your female form.  I hope
you can stand to wear one of Nene's ADP uniforms until we get to my
apartment."

Darlene continued to glare at him and calmly stated, "You're enjoying this
aren't you."

Bert looked up at the ceiling in complete innocence and whistled.

Darlene started to giggle, unable to keep up the pretense of being angry. 
"Well, at least this'll be familiar."

***

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi@escape.ca