well, here it is.. you asked, and someone was kind enough to tell me how.
Stormwalker presents :
Bubblegum Collision
A Bubblegum Crisis fanfic by Douglas A. Reeves
PART ONE
Looking over her newly-rebuilt armor, Christine Starblade was
feeling rather proud of herself. The data supplied by her client had formed the
basis for some simple modifications, and now she felt more than ready to take
on the task at hand. This time, her quarry would be like nothing she had ever
hunted before, and she savored the anticipation of what was to come.
"Computer, prepare simulation 3863827, using datapacket ZA21."
As she donned the battlesuit, she ran through the tactical data in her mind.
Her client had provided her with detailed readouts on the combat capabilities of
the enemy, which she promptly adjusted upward as she always did, but she
wondered what surprises this group might have in store for her. The computer
usually simulated her opponents' tactics well, but if anyone would escape
prediction, it would be they.
Glancing around the holographic cityscape, she whispered, "Begin
simulation."
Her sensors gave her the locations of four targets, and the fight was on.
* * * * * * * * *
"Do I have to?" Nene tried to beg her way out of it, but to no avail.
"Yes!" came the unanimous response. Priss scowled at her and said, "Get
in there and do it again! I'm sick of having to save your ass."
"Calm down, Priss," Sylia spoke from the control console. "Nene, I know
how much you dislike this, but if you don't learn to defend yourself you will
become a danger to us all."
"Very well." Nene opened the door to the training chamber.
"All right, level five again. Begin on my mark." Nene assumed a fighting
stance.
"Go."
At first, things did not go well. Her movements were too slow, too
ill-timed to be effective, and she narrowly escaped being eliminated on more
than one occasion.
About halfway through the simulation, though, something clicked in her
mind. Suddenly, she knew where to attack, and when... and her body knew,
too. The target appeared, and she turned to the attack, striking with a
backhand chop. The hologram froze, registering a successful strike, and she
nearly fell over from surprise.
In the control booth, Priss's jaw dropped. "She CLEARED it?!"
"So she did," Sylia said, then spoke into the microphone, "Well done,
Nene."
Exhausted, Nene just nodded.
"That's enough for today. We'll test you again tomorrow, and if you can
clear it again I will make some adjustments to your hardsuit."
Nene nodded again, then walked to the door.
Linna met her there. "That was much better than you've ever done before.
What was different?"
"I really don't know... it just felt different that time."
"You're learning. Maybe that training we've been doing is finally paying
off."
"I guess so," Nene smiled weakly then turned to head for a well-earned
shower.
* * * * * * * * *
Reviewing the details of the simulation in her mind, Christine smiled... it
was too easy. In fact, she realized, it was exactly that. The data her client
had provided her was supposedly accurate, and she had enhanced it somewhat
beyond that, but something didn't seem right about it. Still, the performance of
her new armor was well above the levels she felt necessary for this job, so she
was satisfied. Stepping out of her battlesuit, she decided it would be a good
time for a shower.
As the hot water flowed over her, relaxing her sore muscles, she allowed
her thoughts to drift a little. It was at times like these when the questions
came... "Why do I do this?" "Why do I not seek a normal life?". The
answers, too, were always the same. Ever since her parents had died she had
been bored with the life of a rich, spoiled child. The rush of excitement that
came with her hunting filled a void in her spirit, and her competitive nature
thrilled to the rigors of combat. Of late, though, even this had gotten boring.
It had been a long time since anyone could challenge her; perhaps this was
why she was so thrilled about this new job.
As she dried herself off and looked into the mirror, she again faced the
realization of what she gave up for this thrill. She was quite pretty, with long
blonde hair and sapphire eyes, and her body was desirable - she could have
almost any man she wanted, but she had little time for romantic pursuits. With
her money and her resources, she could go anywhere, see anything she desired,
but that was not the life she chose. Sometimes she wondered if perhaps she
would enjoy that sort of life... perhaps she could find an adventure of a
different kind; always, though, when she looked into her own eyes, she saw the
truth. She was a warrior born.
* * * * * * * * *
"This should be a relatively simple job," Sylia spoke to the assembled
Knight Sabers. "As you know, the Japanese branch of Stevenson Incorporated
has been at odds with Genom for some time over a military contract. The
Stevenson entry in the competition is being transported from their corporate
complex to a USSD base, and they have hired us to protect it from possible
Boomer attack."
"Sounds simple enough." Linna commented. "Are we supposed to be
visible or secret?
"They didn't say, so I'm assuming visible. Better if we can deter an attack
rather than fight it off."
"Something seems wrong about this, Sylia." Priss spoke up. "Why would
Stevenson need us to guard their equipment? They have the resources to do
this kind of work in-house."
"I wondered that myself. Perhaps they don't trust their own security?"
"That's a comforting thought."
* * * * * * * * *
"No activity so far," Nene commented.
"Confirmed," Mackie answered, flying far above in the KnightWing.
Looking down on the convoy, he could see each of the Sabers. Using their
motoslaves for flight capability, they hovered above the Stevenson trucks. The
passers-by looked up at them in awe, but then just moved on as if it was
nothing truly new in Megatokyo.
At the front of the group was Priss, who wore a scowl beneath her helmet.
She did NOT like this job... something just didn't add up about it, but she
couldn't quite tell what that was. Even she had to admit, though, that the pay
was too good to pass up.
The pick-up operation had proceeded smoothly, and they were about
halfway to their destination. Priss could not help but wonder what was so
valuable that Stevenson would be willing to hire them to protect it. Also, why
would a largely American company work on such a sensitive project in Japan,
right under Genom's nose? "Too many variables," she muttered to herself.
"Agreed," answered Sylia, realizing that Priss had not meant to vocalize
her feelings but finding validity in them nevertheless. "Keep your eyes open."
"Nothing to see so far," Nene reassured.
A few minutes, and a few kilometers, passed without event, and Priss
allowed herself to relax a little bit. Still, suspicion was strong in her mind.
"Incoming!" Mackie called. "Two C-class boomers about half a kilometer
back."
"I see them," answered Nene, turning to face the attackers. "They look like
standard types."
"Brace for battle," Sylia ordered. "Knight Sabers, go!" With a flash of
blue, she fired the motoslave's thrusters and charged toward the incoming
boomers. Glancing right she saw Linna, already on the ground, and she
instinctively knew Priss was right behind her. The boomers were at ground
level, so she separated herself from the motoslave and used her jump unit to
land.
Seeing them, the first boomer turned to fire at Linna. Nimbly dodging, she
performed a front handspring and vaulted into the air. Her leap carried her
completely over the first boomer and she fell toward the second. As she
descended on it, it raised its gun to fire, but she was coming much to fast.
Using her left hand to brace herself, she drove the right into the boomer's head.
The Knuckle Bomber flared, and explosions gutted the mechanical monster.
Turning in the air, Linna dropped softly to her feet.
The first boomer, not even noticing the demise of his partner-in-crime,
charged on toward the convoy. Meeting him halfway there, Priss fired her
flechette cannon at him. The boomer had expected this move, but it was only
intended as a distraction. The true threat was behind, as Sylia's sword pierced
the back of his head. Hydraulic fluid and sparks flew as the boomer collapsed
in a heap. Priss fired another pair of flechettes into his exposed circuitry just
to be sure.
Looking back, they saw that the convoy had gotten well ahead of them, as
had
Nene, who had remained nearby to monitor for more attackers. Suddenly
Nene cried, "Power surge in the lead truck! It's going to--"
KA-BLAM! The first truck in the convoy was ripped from its chassis as
the trailer it was carrying went up in a massive fireball. Debris rained on the
street around it and smoke filled the air. Struggling to see, Nene glanced
around in a vain attempt to locate the source of the explosion.
"Careful, Nene!" she heard Sylia warn, "We're coming!"
"Sis," Mackie warned, "whatever caused that explosion is still down there
somewhere... can't tell what or where, though... there's too much
interference!"
"My sensors don't show anything! I can't see for all the smoke!" Nene
yelled in desperation. Firing her motoslave's thrusters, she attempted to fly
above the clouds of smoke which enveloped her. Suddenly, on her left, she
saw a bright plume of flame.
"Nene! Incoming!" Mackie warned, far too late. Nene's instincts took
over, and her left arm flew up to block the attack before she even saw it. A
look of horror crossed her face when she realized -- missile!
The weapon exploded, its proximity fuse detecting her arm as she
attempted to deflect it. The blast crushed the arm of her hardsuit, shattering
her lower arm and wrist, and she screamed. Losing all control, she fell from
the sky.
"NENE!" Linna screamed as her jump unit propelled her into the air. The
emitters on her gauntlet glinted as she leapt toward the armored figure which
emerged from the smoke, and she drove her attack home. The Knuckle
Bomber made contact... and nothing happened.
"Nani?!" she managed before her adversary's backhand flung her away.
Turning, the armored figure... apparently a woman, though Linna could not
see well, aimed at her with her right arm. Linna braced herself as best as she
could while trying to right herself with her jump unit, and a bright flash
exploded from the hand of the enemy.
The pulse cannon struck Linna with all of its fury, driving her backwards
through a nearby building. Christine could not help but laugh at the futility of
the Knight Saber's attack... she was well prepared for that particular weapon, at
least. Her laughter stopped, however, when Linna came back through the wall
she had just met, her hardsuit undamaged.
"Just go AWAY!" Christine screamed, taking aim this time with her left
arm.
The Knight Saber kept coming, no longer fearing her, but was brought to a
sudden halt when Christine's energy web surrounded her. Stripped of
momentum, she dropped to the ground.
"You bitch!" she heard a shout from her right, turning to face, she saw
Priss charging her. Raising her arm to fire again, she saw a blinding flash and
was suddenly thrown backwards.
"Aaaahhh..." she managed weakly as she felt her left shoulder disintegrate
under the force of the blast. The APDS shell ripped through armor and flesh,
nearly severing her left arm, and Christine immediately lost conciousness from
the pain.
Priss watched with angry satisfaction as the mercenary was thrown against
the remains of the destroyed truck. She turned around, and all her anger fled
her. "Nene!" she cried as she saw her fallen friend.
Nene was in a bad way. Her left hand and arm below the elbow were
crushed inside the hardsuit, and she was losing blood rapidly. "Damn... I
KNEW this was a trap," Priss whispered. Nene only groaned, stirring slightly.
Sylia dropped to the ground beside her and picked up Nene. "Let's go.
We've got to get her some medical help, quickly."
Linna walked up, having freed herself from the web. "What about her?"
she pointed at the armored form of their opponent, lying in a rapidly expanding
pool of blood.
"She's dead anyway." Priss answered.
"Probably," Sylia agreed, though not so certain. "We don't have time to
deal with her anyway. Let's go."
* * * * * * * * *
"OPERATOR DISABLED. RETURN TO BASE," Doctor James Boston
read from the monitor screen.
"Damn you, Christine. I knew this would happen eventually." he shook his
head and prepared for the worst.
As he walked into the secret garage exit, he saw the suit fly in. It set
down on the ground in front of him and opened, and Christine slumped out
into his arms, still unconcious.
"Dear God," he gasped, looking at her wounds, and he carried her to the
medlab.
* * * * * * * * *
Sylia was distraught as she looked over the X-rays of Nene's arm. They
had managed to stabilize her, so she at least would live... but this was not
good.
"Lower arm broken in six places... wrist shattered beyond repair, hand
crushed." She shook her head and started to cry silently.
"We knew this would happen eventually," Priss pointed out. "This is a
dangerous business."
"But I... I walked us into a trap. Walked her," she indicated the sleeping
Nene, "into a trap. She's so young... and this has to happen to her."
"It could have been much worse," Linna comforted. "If that missile had hit
her body instead of her arm..."
"Then she would be dead..." Sylia finished, then added, "and it would be
MY fault."
"NO!" Priss slapped Sylia across the face... hard. "It is NOT your fault.
She knew this job was dangerous when she took it! Get a hold of yourself!"
Sylia sighed. "Maybe... maybe you are right. Still, it is time we rethought
some things."
* * * * * * * * *
"Ohhhh...." Christine moaned as her eyelids fluttered open. "Ouch."
"Ouch," Doctor Boston repeated. "It's good to see you awake again."
"What hit me?"
"My, she's recovering her head quickly," he thought before responding,
"APDS shell. Intended to disable a boomer in one shot... you came out of it
pretty well."
Looking over to her left side, she said, "Cybernetic shoulder?"
"You can tell?"
"If it was real, it wouldn't look that good." After a second, she asked,
"What about the armor?"
"You intend to use it again?"
"Certainly. I have a score to settle."
"You damn near died, Chris."
"That's why I pay you so well."
"Whatever," Doctor Boston sighed as he turned and walked out.
"I guess he just doesn't understand," she thought to herself, then lay back
to get some more sleep.
* * * * * * * * *
The blare of Klaxons jarred her from her sleep. Rolling out of bed, she
moved
to the wall intercom. "What the hell is going on out there?" she demanded.
"We're under attack!" came the frantic response from the gate guard.
"Type 12-B boomers!"
Slapping another button, she shouted "Prep the backup battlesuit. I'll be
down in two."
"You're in no condition to fight, Chris," Doctor Boston objected as he
strode into the room."
"Maybe so, but nobody else is going to stop them from ripping this place
apart."
"True," he acquiesced. "But be careful."
"Always," she smiled at him.
Two and a half minutes later she was suited up. The doors opened to show a
front lawn that looked more like a battlezone. She had spent a lot of money on
the
luxury of a lawn in this city, and the sight of it being torn to pieces infuriated
her.
"Go to Hell, Genom!" she cried as she charged into the fray, ignoring the
pain which flared through her left arm as she lifted it. Turning to face the
nearest
boomer, she fired her energy web. The cyberdroid stepped right into the
transparent
mesh, and it closed around him. A quick burst of the pulse cannon shattered
the metal
beast's armor like so much glass.
A flash on her right attracted her attention, and she nimbly stepped aside as
the second of her adversaries fired his rail cannon. The missile launcher swung
up over her shoulder, immediately registering a lock, and she fired. The
boomer swiftly dodged the missile, and itwas taking aim for another shot when
the weapon swung around and struck it in the back. Gouts of flame shot from
its joints as it collapsed.
"Two down, how many left?" she asked.
"None left. Apparently Genom wasn't expecting you to put up much of a
fight."
"Bastards... attacking a woman when she's down. They'll pay for that."
* * * * * * * * *
"Sylia... take a look at this," Priss indicated the news announcer.
"... a mysterious armored figure fought off two Bu-12-B military boomers
on the estate of Christine Stevenson. Miss Stevenson, 21 years old and the
majority owner of Stevenson Incorporated, could not be reached for comment,
but it is known that her corporation has been one of Genom's few competitors
in the market for military hardware. Genom executives declined our request
for an interview regarding the incident..."
"Interesting."
"At a glance, that battlesuit looked very familiar," Linna commented
nervously.
"Perhaps our adversary yet lives," Sylia answered.
"Maybe so... looks like Genom gave her the short end of the deal, though."
"This could get interesting."
* * * * * * * * *
Looking over some blueprints, Christine took a sip from her coffee and
grumbled.
"The data Genom provided me on the Knight Sabers' capabilities was
woefully inadequate. On top of that, they tried to kill me to cover their own
ineptitude. I cannot let this go unanswered."
"I doubt that it was ineptitude, Chris. More likely, they deliberately gave
you false or obsolete data, knowing that you would be more likely to take the
job."
"Probably true. Either way, they are going to hurt for this."
Doctor Boston sighed softly. Once Christine had set her mind on
something, he knew, she could not be deterred. Time after time, he had
watched her don her armor and go to battle, and time after time he feared that
she would not return. This last time had hurt him... the sight of her as she
collapsed into his arms had burned his heart, and he did not know if he could
deal with that again.
"You know I have to do this, James. I have to. They know my identity,
and they are not going to just let me go."
"I know, but... be careful. I almost lost you last time." A tear formed in
his eye as he spoke in a near-whisper. Quickly, he looked away, hoping that
she had not noticed. She gave no indication of having seen it...
...but she had.
* * * * * * * * *
"Nene."
Stirring slightly, Nene slowly opened her eyes. "Sylia... I'm alive?"
"Yes, you are alive," Sylia could not help but smile. "I was worried about
you for a while, but you are a good deal stronger than you let on."
Nene smiled weakly, then cringed as she began to feel again. Her left arm
was a solid mass of pain from the elbow down. Looking over at it, she saw
that the entire lower arm was in a cast, which prevented all movement.
"How bad is it?"
Sylia's smile faded. "I'm sorry... the arm will heal but your wrist and hand
are beyond repair."
Nene sighed, and Sylia could see that she was holding back tears.
"I'm sorry, Nene. I really am."
Nene nodded. "I guess I'm finished as a Knight Saber, then."
"Perhaps not. There is one possibility."
"A possibility?"
"We could construct a cybernetic replacement for the wrist and hand."
Nene bit her lower lip, considering that... "What would it be like," she
wondered, "to know that a part of you was not really you... But then, what
will it be like not being able to use my hand, or be a Knight Saber... and how
would I explain the injury at work... and how am I going to explain my
absence?" Her mind reeled with the rampant worries and thoughts, but there
was really only one choice she could make.
"Go ahead."
* * * * * * * * *
END PART ONE
* * * * * * * * *
Bubblegum Collision
A Bubblegum crisis fanfic by Douglas A. Reeves
PART TWO - Midnight Ride
"Nene!" Leon called, smiling. "Nice to see you back!"
"Thanks," she answered, "It's good to be back."
"How's that arm holding up? I understand you had a fight with some
stairs."
Nene had to smile slightly at that- Sylia had set that story up nicely. "Oh,
it's doing better." Flexing her cybernetic fingers, she again marveled at just
how natural it felt. "I should be able to get the cast off in a few days."
"Great! See you around!"
"Bye." she said, waving to him as he left. As she entered the tower, she
couldn't help but think, "It IS good to be back." In spite of her frustration
with the AD Police at times, she really did like her job, and she had been
anxioius to return to it.
The first hour or so of her day was occupied with answering people's
questions, and by the time she actually got to doing any work she was feeling
even more cheerful than usual. Settling down with a stack of paperwork that
had piled up in her absence, she set to work.
By the time she had done, it was getting late. Weariness crept over her,
but she knew she had one last thing to do before she went home. Walking into
the computer room, she sat down at the terminal and typed in the command to
access a file.
"NAME:" flashed on the computer screen, and Nene began to tap out the
letters.
S-t-e-v-e-n-s-o-n, C-h-r-i-s-t-i-n-e-ENTER
"Stevenson, Christine. Majority owner of Stevenson Incorporated.
Estimated net worth of 15 billion dollars American. Citizen of the United
States, but resides in Megatokyo for much of the year.
"Date of birth: 14 April 2012, Height: 5' 8", Hair:Blond, Eyes:Blue"
"No criminal record."
Nene's mood darkened as she read the file, and she could feel anger
building up inside her. Clearing the file, she shut down the terminal and left,
seeking solace in the night.
* * * * * * * * *
"Nothing at all?" Sylia asked.
"Nothing. No record, not even a statement regarding the fighting at her
estate the other day," Nene scowled. The mere mention of this woman's name
had brought a violent hatred bubbling to the surface, a fury so strong that it
frightened Nene herself.
"Odd... I'll have to see what I can come up with on my own, then."
Seeing the change that had come over Nene, Sylia added, "I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have asked you to do this."
Nene sighed, "We do what we have to," and left.
Once she was gone, Sylia slumped into a chair and wept.
* * * * * * * * *
Looking over the shattered battlesuit, Christine said, "There's no way we
can repair this... we'll have to build a new one."
"What about the backup?" Dr. Boston asked.
"It's good enough for a backup, but not for a primary... I wouldn't want to
go out in it."
"Well, at least she is exercising some concern for her own safety," he
thought, then he responded, "Well, what do you have in mind for the new
one?"
"First of all, we need a projectile weapon of some sort... I had no idea that
armor existed with that kind of energy-reflective properties."
"What kind?"
"The Knight Saber that I hit with the pulse cannon... I hit her dead on and
her armor wasn't scratched."
"You might also consider some sort of melee weapon, if you are looking
for physical damage."
"That thought had occurred to me also," she said, then stopped and looked
at him oddly. "I thought you wanted me out of this."
"I do... but I can't stop you. Maybe at least I can keep you alive."
"All right," she said, looking for a way to change the subject. "Come on...
we have work to do."
* * * * * * * * *
"Sylia?"
"Come in," she answered quietly, and the door opened to reveal Priss and
Linna.
"Sylia, we need to talk." Linna said softly.
"About?" she asked, struggling to regain her composure.
"About you," came the response, from Priss this time. She had a look in
her eyes that Sylia had never seen before. What's happened has happened...
but you have to face up to it."
Sylia looked up at her friends... no, her family, and realized that they still
believed in her, even when she couldn't believe in herself.
Priss extended her hand, and Sylia took it. Pulling her to her feet, Priss
said, "We need you, Sylia. You're the one who makes this happen."
* * * * * * * * *
Days passed, and Christine smiled as she observed the new battlesuit in
construction. The early stages of the building proceeded quickly, as the frame
and power system of the armor were largely similar to those of the damaged
one, but when the time came to install the weaponry, the process slowed to a
meticulous crawl. The weaponry was carefully thought out; the energy web
remained, as did the missile system, but the pulse cannon was dropped in favor
of a hypervelocity razor-disc system in the right gauntlet. As before, twin
lasers were mounted on her left forearm for defensive puposes.
Other modifications had been made as well. A new, more powerful flight
rig had been installed, taking advantage of the power savings from the removal
of the pulse cannon, and the joint structure was altered to further protect her.
As the systems took shape, Christine found herself thrilled at the prospect of
returning to battle, and she began to make plans.
* * * * * * * * *
"So, how does that arm feel?" Sylia asked, smiling, as she laid the pieces
of Nene's cast aside.
"Wonderful. Thank you... I didn't expect that it would heal this quickly,"
Nene said, tentatively moving her arm about, rotating the wrist.
"Well, thank the computer, not me... my medical abilities are rather
limited." Sylia's eyes flickered as she said it, as a twinge of guilt ran through
her for putting Nene in this situation. It did not go unnoticed.
"Sylia... this isn't your fault... i-it's... my fault." her voice cracked, then
hardened as she added, "and hers."
"Oh, Nene," Sylia fought back tears as she was reminded of the anger that
so tortured her young friend. No matter what Nene said, Sylia would always
believe that it was in part her fault, and that thought was devastating. "You are
so much stronger than anyone knows."
Nene's anger evaporated as quickly as it had come on. "I'll be all right,
Sylia," she comforted, putting her arms around her. Over the time they had
been together, Sylia had become like a second mother to her, and she loved her
dearly. Even so, she had never realized just how much Sylia cared for her and
felt responsible for her... and it touched her heart to see it.
* * * * * * * * *
"So. What have we learned?" Sylia asked.
"That a certain Christine Stevenson is a bitch?" Nene tossed in, the hatred
still audible at the edges of her voice.
"Besides that."
"That Genom is looking for new ways to get rid of us," Priss commented,
"and that other people out there have tech that can match our hardsuits."
"Which we therefore need to improve," Linna added.
"Agreed, but we lack the means," was Sylia's response. "Our hardsuits
suffer from a single major weakness, and that is in the area of power
production. The systems which comprise our suits have a very high
energy demand, and the space restrictions make that demand very difficult to
fill. There is, however, a potential solution that I see."
"And that is?" asked Linna.
"Genom is, according to rumor, working on a new power reactor for their
next generation of boomer."
"Are you suggesting we go and take it?" The question came from Priss
this time, and Sylia could detect a hint of hope in her tone.
"Indeed. The question is, are we ready for that kind of fight?"
"I am ready," Nene volunteered. "We've played nice with Genom for too
long."
Priss agreed, but her expression registered only surprise - surprise that
such a strong statement would come from Nene. Still, it was the same
argument she had been making for as long as she could remember, and her
opinions had not changed. "I am ready."
"They have gone too far," Linna agreed. "It is time we took action."
"Very well," Sylia rounded out the discussion. "Our midnight ride
begins."
* * * * * * * * *
The storm that raged overhead paled in comparison to the one in Nene's
heart. At the first site of the Genom research and development facility, a swell
of anger rose up from within her like she had never known. Ultimately,
Genom was to blame for all her suffering, and she would make them hurt for
it.
Less than a meter to her right, Sylia's thoughts were more
tactically-oriented. Get in, get the device, get out. Quick, simple, and with a
minimum of noise - the sort of plan that works, which left her with one
question. Why did she doubt it would happen that way?
Priss certainly had different ideas. She had been spoiling for this fight for
a long time, and now she was ready to dish out the damage. The mission
objective was first, certainly, but if she happened to destroy half of the facility
along the way, so be it.
Linna's thoughts ran along another line entirely. When she first
started doing this, it was for the money and the chance to show off. Then
Genom killed Irene, and it became personal. She'd finally started to get over
that, and then they hired that... mercenary... who hurt Nene, and the anger
flared all over again. Her anger, though, was not like Nene's... it was cold and
calculating, and burned long. Tonight she would get some payback.
Nene was the first to speak. "One kilometer to target; Enemy is engaging
defenses."
"Defensive strength?" Sylia asked, trying to ignore the chill in Nene's
once-cheerful voice.
"Weak at the gate... two twelve-B's and some sort of mobile gun
platform."
"Right. Mackie, as soon as we're clear make sure you're well away from
that gun."
"Right, Sis."
Looking at Nene to her left, and knowing Linna and Priss were inside the
truck, Sylia called, "Knight Sabers, go!" With that, the side panels opened, and
Linna and Priss shot forward and away on their motoslaves. Firing her jump
unit, Sylia leapt forward and looked left to make sure Nene had followed. As
soon as they had jumped, Mackie slammed on the truck's brakes and turned it
off down a side street.
"Here we go!" Priss shouted as the boomers themselves came into view.
Pressing a button on the motoslave's panel, she launched two missiles from the
right side. Her target boomer dodged the attacks easily, having anticipated
them, but in so doing he failed to notice as she vaulted off the motoroid and
into the air. Underneath her, the machine transformed and pressed the attack
while she lined up her shot. A single shot from her arm cannon disabled the
boomer, and she dropped to the ground right beside its smoking hulk.
Linna had just shot right by the boomer on her side, going for the gun.
She could see the weapon come to bear on her, and just as it fired she
abandoned the motoslave for the air. Falling on its side, the motoslave skidded
underneath the cannon's fire while Linna sailed neatly over it, above the
weapons limited vertical tracking range. Dropping to her knees beside the
mammoth weapon's barrel, she neatly sliced off the front end of the gun. The
operator, realizing that he could no longer safely fire, throttled up the
minitank's engine in an attempt to run her down, but she neatly sidestepped,
driving the Knuckle Bomber into the vehicle's side. Sparks flew, then the
whole machine went up in a massive fireball that she had to jump back to
evade.
Behind her, the other boomer had its hands full, too. Nene had hammered
it with a continuous stream of fire from her arm gun, then ducked when it
attempted to return fire. As it tracked her movement, a sudden white blur was
followed by a brilliant flash as Sylia severed its cannon with her sword.
Before it could even turn to face, she had struck again, this time planting the
blade deep in the boomer's back. Still not quite beaten, the boomer flipped
forward, throwing Sylia over its head, but the move put the boomer on the
ground to, and Nene finished it with her cannon, point blank to the head.
Stepping back as the cyberdroid's body sprayed hydraulic fluid everywhere,
Nene savored the satisfaction of the victory. Never before had she been truly
aggressive in a fight, and it was an odd feeling to her, but the adrenalin rush of
battle had just intensified her anger, and she wanted more.
"Here's the front door," Priss called to the others. "It's going to take a lot
of firepower to crack it, though."
"Allow me," Nene answered, touching her palm to the door. The
electronics in her suit whistled and beeped as she deciphered the entry code,
then with a wave of her hand the door slid open.
"Good work, Nene. This place is sure to be trapped, so be careful," Sylia
warned as they entered the complex.
"I'll see what I can do about that, too." Nene's sensors weren't calibrated
for this sort of work, but she could pick out the electronic signatures of
targeting devices, one at a time. It took a couple of minutes, but she was able
to map out the entry hall's defenses.
"This place is WEIRD..." Linna said, looking around. "I've never seen
so much machinery before."
"We should take this place apart," Priss commented. "There are things
here that should never see the light of -" An explosion far above cut her off.
Instinctively she raised her cannon arm, but then realized that it was several
floors up.
"Apparently someone agrees with you," Linna commented as she looked
around for threats.
"It's HER!" Nene shouted. "She's here!"
"We've got to get that reactor before she tears this place apart.... go!"
Sylia ordered. Gripped by a new sense of urgency, they Knight Sabers sprang
into action. "Priss, you take the point, Linna, guard the rear... Nene, have you
locked in on that reactor yet?"
"Working on it... got it! Third floor, west wing!"
"Let's go!" Priss shouted, raising her arm up over her head. Firing
straight upward, she blasted a hole in the ceiling, then stepped aside as debris
rained on her. The automated fire-suppression systems activated, spraying the
hallway with water, and more importantly triggering the alarms.
Priss jumped up through the hole first, then called, "It's clear." Nene
followed, then Sylia, then Linna leaped through and they ran through the
twisting corridors toward the west wing. Suddenly, they skidded to a stop,
where a seemingly important hallway terminated with a blank wall. "Oh,
hell!" Priss shouted as she blasted through the wall.
"She's headed this way, too," Nene said. "And she's wrecking everything
in her path."
Indeed, the building was wracked with the tremors of multiple explosions, and
the sounds of destruction seemed to be getting louder.
"Move!" Sylia ordered. Stepping over the debris of the destroyed wall,
they found themselves in another corridor which headed straight west.
Sprinting toward their objective, they listened to Nene's directions. "Ok, I've
tapped into their computers. We still need to go up one floor before we enter
the wing... you can't go up once you're in."
"Easily accomplished," Priss commented, blasting through another
ceiling. Leaping upward, she heard a shout behind her, "YOU?"
Whirling, she found herself face-to-face with Christine. "What the hell
are you doing here?" asked the mercenary, taking aim with her right arm.
"I might ask you the same question," Priss countered, making no hostile
moves but not hiding the anger in her tone, either. As she spoke, Linna came
up through the floor as well and assumed a fighting stance.
"This doesn't involve you, Sabers."
"Oh, doesn't it?" Nene asked as she too entered the room, the rage
making her voice tremble.
Christine realized she was outnumbered. The possibility of fighting
with them had occurred to her, but reason had dismissed it immediately. "My
fight is with Genom, Sabers."
"Perhaps mine is with you," Nene's voice rose still further.
"No, Nene." Sylia's hand rested on her shoulder. "No personal
vengeance; you know the Code." Looking up, she faced Christine, "Do not
interfere, mercenary. I do not want to fight you again."
"I have my business here as well... and you will not hold me back from
it."
"Try us," Priss challenged. Christine only fumed. She knew she could
not win, but to be taunted by the one who had injured her...
"Wait." Sylia's voice cut through the tension which was building between
them all. "We only want the reactor. Once we have it, you may have your
way with this place."
"Very well," Christine aquiesced. The reactor would have been nice, but
it was in truth no better than her own, and certainly not worth fighting for.
"Go on your way."
"As if we needed your leave," Priss said as she walked away, still
keeping an eye on Christine as the others continued down the corridor.
"Are you looking for a fight, Saber?"
"Maybe."
"Be careful what you wish for."
"Right."
Down the hall, Nene was working her magic again. "This place has the
oddest security I've ever seen. The other halls were not well secured at all, but
this is going to be tough to crack."
About that time, Priss caught up to them, standing back as a rear guard.
"I don't trust her."
"Neither do I," answered Sylia.
"Got it." Nene interrupted. "We have four minutes."
"Before?" Priss inquired as the doors parted before them. The rooms
inside were almost totally dark, with only the light of the computer consoles to
illuminate them.
"You don't want to know."
"It is enough," Sylia said. "Go."
Back down at the other end of the hall, Christine was searching for the
complex's computer core. Without the benefit of Nene's ability to access that
computer, it was a difficult task, but eventually she found it. Tapping into the
system, she started downloading the core. As she scanned the data she
accessed, a feeling of horror swept over her. Sprinting to the intercom system,
she shouted, "Get out! This whole building is trap! Get out now!"
Hearing the desperation in her voice, Sylia said, "Locate her, Nene."
Instinct told her that Christine was telling the truth, but she had to verify.
"She's... in the computer core, Sylia."
"Abort mission... let's go!"
"You sure?" Priss asked, "We went to a lot of trouble for this."
"I'm sure. Now go!" Shoving the other Knight Sabers back out into the
main hallway, she ran after them. Just as she stepped across the doorway, a
resounding explosion tore through the west wing, shredding the floors upon
which they had just been standing.
"Damn! I knew this was too easy," Priss shouted as they ran from the
blast.
Taking a second to check the quickest way out, Christine fled the
computer core. As she ran through the hallways, she found herself wondering
why she had saved the Knight Sabers. "The enemy of my enemy..." she
whispered to herself. As she rounded a corner, she found herself face to face
with a pair of boomers.
"Thirty-four CX! I thought those were still in development!" she
thought as she instinctively raised her left arm and fired. The energy web
surrounded one of them, and as it struggled to free itself she dodged the other's
attack. Using her flight jets to leap over the still-active boomer, she spun and
brought up the missile system. Targeting one on each, she fired her two
missiles and watched with satisfaction as the prototype boomers exploded.
"Boomers around the corner, Sylia... new type," Nene warned. "Three
of them."
"Priss, take point."
"Got it." Bursting around the corner, Priss fired seversal shots from her
arm cannon. Armor piercing shells ripped into the first two boomers, strinking
one on the shoulder and one on the hip. The second boomer's leg buckled, and
she finished it off with two flechettes in the back of the head.
While the boomers were occupied with Priss, the others came around the
corner as well. Linna immediately took to the air, though her vertical space
was limited, and went straight to the Knuckle Bomber. Unsure of the new
boomers' weaknesses, she chose to attack the head, but it dodged and she hit
the shoulder instead. Flame shot from the joint, and the arm was severed, but
the cyberdroid's other hand caught her while still in the air. Thrown against
the wall by the backhand blow, she fell to the floor.
"Linna!" Nene cried and charged the boomer, who now stood over her
friend. Driving her right hand into the mess of wires that was the 34-CX's
shoulder, she fired her cannon. The boomer had been too intent on finishing
Linna, and her surprise attack decimated its internal systems. It collapsed in a
heap.
Priss was still fighting with the first boomer she attacked, so Sylia went
after the other one. Extending the sword, she slashed for its head, but it
dodged. On the backswing, she clipped its shoulder, but it caught her sword
arm and threw her into Priss. As the two of them scrambled to get up, their
respective targets closed in.
"Get UP, Linna!" Nene shouted, hauling her friend to her feet. Though
her mind was still a bit hazy from hitting the wall, she immediately realized
the danger and sprang into action. The nearest boomer had just drawn a blade
of its own and had Sylia backed against the wall, so she chose to attack it first.
Leaping in front of the boomer, she used her smartmetal "whips" to neatly
slice off the boomer's knife-arm, then began to drive him backwards with her
arm cannon. Nene came in from behind, striking the cyberdroid in the back,
and it fell to the combined assault.
Back on her feet, Priss was taking no quarter. Using her hardsuit's
enhanced strength, she was delivering punishing blows with her hands and feet,
pushing her adversary back until it was pinned to the wall, then riddling him
with flechettes. Hydraulic fluid and flame poured from gashes all along the
boomer's body, and it collapsed in a heap.
"Sylia, this whole building is going to explode, and quick. We need to
be moving!" Nene warned.
"Then let's go up. Priss?"
Less than a minute later, they were standing on the roof of the research
facility. Looking around, they could see the flames which were consuming the
building, burning from west to east. A small explosion flared a few meters to
the right, and Christine emerged from the resulting gap in the roof. Walking
over to face Sylia, she said. "We're even. I tried to kill you, and that was
business. I just saved you all. Don't forget it." With that said, she flew off
into the night.
"We'd best be going ourselves," Priss suggested.
"Yes, let's go home." Sylia agreed.
***************
END PART TWO
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Stormwalker <temporarily at pingley@post.cis.smu.edu>
"Chaos is a good thing"
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