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Bubblegum Crisis
****
The Tempest Chronicles II
****
(c) Robin Smith 1995/6
Bubblegum Crisis is copyright Armtic,
Youmex and Toshimichi Suzuki.
Other copyrights belong to their respective holders.
=========
Chapter 2.9
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"Damn it, where's Leon when you need him"
She called out.
There was pause before she heard a familiar voice.
"Priss is that you ?"
"What? how?"
It was then that Priss realised she'd left the radio in transceive
mode. {30}
"Yeah it's me Leon; want to help me out here ?"
"Couple of things first.
What are you doing using an ADP radio ?
And how come it Tempest's priority channel as well ?"
"It's a long story.
Right now though, I'm being chased and shot at by some maniacs in a
silver sports car."
"What, shot at you say ?
Are you wearing a black helmet, rucksack and riding a red Ninja by any
chance ?"
"Yes that's me.
KUSO ! That was close."
"I'm about a kilometre behind you, with you ASAP."
Leon hit the switches to engage high speed pursuit mode, floored the
throttle and changed channels briefly to call dispatch.
"Despatch this is McNichol.
I've got a red Genom Ninja bike being chased and shot at by a silver
sports car on the beltway approaching junction 30, speed approximately
260kph.
I'm pursuing and about a kilometre behind, any other units who can
assist ?"
"Despatch here Inspector; sorry we have no other units in your vicinity
capable of high speed pursuit. Closest cruiser is ten kilometres away
and already engaged."
"Roger dispatch, McNichol out."
Leon switched the channel back.
"It's just you and me Priss, try and stay out of the way of the bullets
till I get there."
"BAKA!
What do you think I'm trying to do ?
Catch them ?
Kuso !
Come on Leon get that heap of bolts moving; their aim's not getting any
worse."
"Why don't you do what Tempest did on that bike earlier on ?"
"Because I'm *not* Tempest you idiot !"
"I know that, but what do you mean ?"
"Tempest has a skill that I can't match, but I'm hoping for lessons.
Now, where are you ?"
"About 20 meters from their rear end.
See that truck up ahead ?"
"Yeah, what about it."
"When I yell, make a dive for the other side and slow up so you keep
the truck between you and them.
I'll be making sure they don't follow you."
Priss noticed there was suddenly more noise during Leon's last
transmission,
"What are you planning ?"
"Their car is going to stop, *suddenly*.
Call you in a bit."
Priss had visions of Leon ramming them, but at this speed ....
"NOW PRISS"
Closing on the truck at about 250kph Priss needed all her concentration
and considerable skill to make the manoeuvre Leon had suggested. As she
flipped the bike through the slipstream from the truck she almost lost
control but caught it; *just*.
Priss slowed up as fast she dared whilst still keeping the truck
between herself and Leon.
'Strange, that sounded like a gunshot, but that's not possible.
Unless ...' Priss thought.
"Leon are you okay ?"
"Never better, but I can't say the same for the opposition's car any
more."
"What did you do it ?"
"I shot it."
Priss wasn't sure if it was common knowledge about Leon's 'earthshaker'
as he called it,
"With what ?
An elephant gun ?"
"No a rather special revolver."
Priss pulled over to the side of the beltway and pulled up,
"Yeah and pigs fly.
You want me to make a statement or anything ?"
She walked back along the carriageway until there were only the four
lanes of the highway separating them.
"Has Tempest got you on his 'team' for something ?"
Leon called over the radio.
"Pretty close Leon, I can't really say."
Priss held open Tempest's wallet with his id card showing; not that
Leon would be able to read it, but the colouring should be sufficient
to indicate what it was.
Leon did a double take; an id card like Tempest's, aww hell.
"It'll keep.
All right Miss Secret Service, catch you later."
Pocketing Tempest's wallet; Priss walked back to the bike.
"Not in that heap Leon, over and out."
Remounting the bike Priss roared off towards the next exit, whereupon
she immediately rejoined the beltway to head back towards Leon, having
overshot her exit during the chase.
As Priss neared Leon she slowed up, glancing at the now wrecked sports
car. Leon was waiting for a tow truck and a squad car to arrive;
casually reclining on the front of his ADP cruiser.
He looked up as a horn sounded from the opposite carriageway; just in
time to see Priss wave as she went by. As he lazily raised his right
hand and waved back, he wondered just what Priss was doing for Tempest
and made a mental note to check with Tempest later.
'Mind you' he thought 'that's always assuming I can find him.'
He glanced at his watch; ah well only another three hours to go.
His destruction of the shooting range carrier pulley had been fortunate
for Priss; otherwise he wouldn't have been doing an extra four hours
duty and been around to stop the two hoods now handcuffed to the crash
barrier in front of him.
******
Sylia and Mackie had reached the old warehouse complex; together they
removed the signs from the van and swapped places. Mackie driving the
van out of the far end of the complex whilst Sylia sat down inside the
well padded packing crate strapped behind the seats.
She placed the wig and glasses into the bag before placing it in the
one corner.
"Put the radio back into normal mode please Mackie."
"Hang on sec."
He reached across and flipped a switch.
"Okay done."
"White calling green or red"
"Green here, red's still busy with the extraction."
"Got that, where's blue ?"
"Not arrived yet white, I'm worried.
What's your status ?"
'Where the hell has Priss got to ?' Thought Sylia.
'I usually have to get her slow down, not speed up.'
"Black has been placed in secure unit under observation.
Am currently en-route to base, eta approximately ten minutes."
If the extraction is done, then get red to look into blue's late
arrival; otherwise I'll deal with it when I return."
"No need white, blue has just pulled up.
See you in ten minutes."
"Roger, white out."
Linna zoomed the camera in on Priss who was outside the loading bay
doors. When nothing happened, Priss dismounted and walked over to the
side door, the camera tracking her every move. To her annoyance she
found the door locked; she pressed the buzzer on the door-phone only to
get a recorded message announcing the shop was closed and could she
come back on Monday.
Priss whirled round, shook her fist at the camera and gesticulated in
the direction of the door; still nothing happened. She made further
motions with her hands indicating the door to be raised but the camera
swung left and right as though shaking its 'head'.
Priss pulled off her helmet, glared hard at the camera and waved at the
door again; which of course remained shut.
Linna was enjoying herself as Priss made some more gesticulations at
the camera; some of which weren't exactly ladylike.
The final one was where Priss held her hand in the shape of a gun and
'fired' at the camera and door.
Linna made the camera shake its 'head' again.
Priss was by now seething gently and lowered the zip on her jacket.
'Now what's she up to ?' Thought Linna.
Priss looked about her; all clear, reached inside her jacket and
withdrew Tempest's automagnum and pointed it at the camera and her left
hand at the door.
'She's just daft enough to shoot the camera. If that's Tempest's gun
then it'll go straight through the armoured glass' thought Linna and
directed the camera to 'nod' whilst she triggered the door release.
When the camera 'nodded' and doors began to rise, Priss pushed the gun
back into her jacket and rode the Ninja into the loading bay.
She walked over to the lift, entered and pressed the button for the
second floor. Just as the lift doors were closing, she saw Mackie
arrive in the van, parking it next to the bike.
******
Nene started by carefully probing into the ADP staff records for
further information on Tempest's background. As she traced through the
records she learned he wasn't ADP but a leading agent in an
international organisation; the WWLA.{31}
She tapped into a small company's system and from there hopped to its
parent company's network. At this point she could then access one of
Genom's research laboratory systems and from there get into Genom's
network without arousing suspicion.
Once into Genom's network it was reasonably simple (for Nene at least)
to trawl through the Japanese government' systems and then into their
military and secret service systems. She used a similar technique in
accessing the Pentagon, CIA, FBI, MI5 and MI6's systems. {32}
Naturally she couldn't get into everything but she picked up useful
snippets of information that individually wouldn't mean a lot though
when collected together and collated they would give a better picture
of who Tempest was and what the WWLA were about.
She found the WWLA had high level links with almost all the law
enforcement agencies of the world. As such it was answerable to no one
nation's government; but it could operate without hindrance in any
member country.
Nene tried to pursue this new line of information but was unable to
locate any computers listed as belonging to the WWLA. The sole clue was
a computer address that appeared to have nothing connected to it.
Despite her best efforts Nene was unable to get any response from the
address.
'There must be something or why else have the address allocated and on
the world network' she thought.
At this point Linna tapped her on the arm and as Nene lifted her
headset off one ear Linna said.
"Sylia will be here in about 10 minutes.
Have you finished yet ?"
"Okay. Not yet, I've got another lead to follow up."
Nene replied.
"All right."
Nene contemplated another assault on the mysterious address but decided
that the ten minutes would be more profitably spent trawling through
Genom's systems for information on Tempest. The best way to do that
with a minimum of suspicion would be to link back to Genom from the
Japanese government network.
Surprisingly she found the Genom security programs more difficult to
break than the government computers. Nene toiled at this task for nine
minutes before she found the chink in the armour and cried out with joy
as she got the information she was after.
******
Mackie pulled the van into the loading bay and reversed it into the bay
next to the red Ninja. Sylia got out of the packing crate, smoothed out
the creases from her skirt and stepped out the side door to find Mackie
looking at the bike
"What's so interesting ?"
"Priss's helmet."
"What about it ?
It looks like the one she's always had."
"It is, but if she had been wearing it, then it wouldn't be securely
strapped to the tail section. I'd say she was wearing Tempest's helmet.
Also the left mirror is smashed to bits and look at this."
Mackie pointed to a small hole in the fairing surrounded by a star-
field of cracks radiating outwards.
"Hmm bullet hole, looks like a 9mm.
>From your escapade with Tempest ?"
Sylia postulated.
"No, there weren't any shots fired at us, Tempest was the one doing the
shooting; besides this is too low for that. Notice how the edges are
clean; there's no build up of road dirt.
I think this is fresh today.
Priss was wearing Tempest's helmet and the pack.
Whilst riding the same bike I think she got mistaken for Tempest."
"Which means those two goons and the buma you ran into last night must
have a backer who is still clearly after Tempest.
All right, let's go on up and hear the news."
They walked over to the lift. Mackie pressed the call button but
nothing happened; he checked the floor indicator - two.
He pressed the call button again whilst watching the indicator; two
short, one long flash. {33}
"The lift's still going up sis."
"Then Priss got in just before we arrived."
The call button 'pinged'.
"Okay now it's coming down."
When the lift arrived they stepped in and rode up silence.
******
Sylia took one step out of the lift and was almost collected by Linna
who tore past closely followed by a charging Priss. Priss was clearly
intent on pelting Linna with the cushion she was brandishing in her
right hand and both of them seemed completely oblivious to Sylia's
arrival.
Just as the girls made the return pass Mackie emerged from the lift,
unfortunately his timing wasn't as good Sylia's. He stepped straight
into the path of Priss and they fell into a heap on the floor.
Linna had by now raced round the corner trying to remain out of Priss's
reach. When she realised Priss was no longer pursing her; she retraced
her steps and peered cautiously around the corner, half expecting the
cushion to come down on her head. What she saw was Priss and Mackie in
tangled heap with Sylia standing over them tapping her foot.
"I suppose there's a explanation for this ?"
Sylia demanded, raising Priss from Mackie's prostrate form.
Priss was about to protest when Sylia spoke again,
"Go and sit down, you too Linna and no fighting.
Now where's Nene ?"
As Linna walked over the sofa she replied,
"She's still on the computer and was hacking into Genom's major
databases when I last looked."
As Sylia reached the door a triumphant 'Got it !' echoed from inside
the computer room. She stepped inside and Nene looked up, a large smile
on her face,
"I've found some more data about Tempest, though it was just a little
difficult to obtain."
"That's all right Nene, are you finished yet ?"
"Yes, I've severed the link, not that'll anyone will be able to trace
it. The printout will be ready in a moment."
Nene replied.
"When it's done come through and we'll start the meeting."
"Oh-kay."
She felt proud of her achievement on this run; not only was the link
impossible to trace back to Sylia, but any investigation would show
Genom as being the perpetrators of the break-ins; a very convenient
scapegoat Nene thought.
The printer dumped the last page into the output tray; Nene picked up
the sheets with a slight flourish and quickly skimmed through them to
ensure it was all present.
Nene entered the main room with a bounce in her step. She had a look on
her face like a cat that had just found out it had inherited a
lifetime's supply of cream. She dropped onto sofa next to Priss who was
not happy at being unable to exact revenge on Linna with the cushion.
Sylia having gone to make some tea and coffee whilst waiting for Nene
to finish; returned to find Priss and Linna glowering at each other
from opposite sides of the table whilst Nene was studying the report.
Setting the tray down on the table Sylia fixed Priss with a firm gaze.
"Come on out with it, what's up with you ?"
"It wasn't my fault, they wouldn't open the door." {34}
Priss moaned.
"Hey the door was open for a good fifteen minutes; you should have
arrived first, where were you hmm ?"
Linna countered, Nene didn't even look up; she was too engrossed in the
report.
"When I did get here, you kept mucking about with the security camera;
nodding it up and down then shaking it side to side."
Priss's annoyance was readily apparent from her tone of voice.
"You shouldn't have pointed Tempest's cannon at it."
Linna snapped back.
"I was only trying to get your attention."
"When you've quite finished !"
Priss and Linna fell silent.
"Thank you."
Nene glanced up from the report and placed it on the arm of sofa,
"Err sorry, what was that Sylia."
"Good, now that everyone is paying attention.
Tempest's outlook is unknown at the moment; the doctor says physically
he's unharmed and there's no brain damage as far as they can tell. The
brain and CAT scan they performed revealed no problems either. However
he is in a coma, there's some hope in that his eyes are moving around
as if he's having a vivid dream.
I have to call the doctor about five o'clock or if there's any new
development; the doctor has a pager to set off an alarm here so I can
call him.
Any questions ?"
"Isn't that a bit dangerous, giving the doctor a link back to here ?"
Linna sounded concerned at the new about the pager.
"No, there's no risk.
We're just listening out."
"Do you think Tempest's going to be all right ?"
"There's no knowing at this moment Mackie.
I'm afraid all we can do is wait."
Mackie looked slightly downcast at this news, Sylia thought.
Despite their considerable age differences Mackie had struck up a bond
with Tempest in the short time he'd known him.
It may be due to Tempest saving Mackie's life; having endangered it
first. No, that wasn't strictly fair on Tempest, he hadn't known about
the surveillance at his flat until they got there.
Maybe it was his 'devil may care' attitude or perhaps it was immaturity
? She mused.
She pushed the thoughts to back of her mind and focused on the present.
"Priss would you tell me what took you so long in getting here ?
You can leave out the bit about the doors, all right ?"
Priss recapped her morning's adventure and had managed to get to the
part where she'd come across Leon before Linna butted in and asked if
she'd got another speeding ticket. This earned Linna a glare and sharp
rebuke from Sylia. Fortunately Priss managed to finish relating her
encounter with the sports car and Leon without further interruptions.
"Let's summarise what we have here.
Whilst wearing Tempest's helmet, rucksack and riding the same bike,
Priss is mistaken for Tempest and attacked."
"I do not look like him !"
Priss's outburst was rewarded by a snigger from Nene, which in turn got
her a frosty glare from Priss in return.
"I didn't say you did Priss, but with Tempest's equipment and riding
the same bike; at speed they're hardly likely to stop and check for an
exact likeness are they ?"
Sylia sighed inwardly at having to explain this. She hoped the rest of
the meeting would be a little less fractious.
"No, I 'spose not Sylia."
Priss replied somewhat grumpily; she thought being likened to Tempest
was pretty stupid concept.
"Apparently whoever they are, are after Tempest and they'd prefer him
dead. I suggest that you don't go riding that bike about."
"But my bike's still needs fixing and Pops hasn't got another bike
available."
"Perhaps you would prefer some more ventilation in your jacket ?"
Sylia pointed to the tears in Priss's jacket from the bullets.
"Tempest's currently in the clinic, I do *not* want to have to visit
you there or maybe even end up erecting a gravestone for you.
Have I made myself clear ?"
"Yes, perfectly clear," muttered Priss.
The thought of being without a bike rankled heavily, but she knew deep
in her heart Sylia was correct and only thinking of her safety.
"Well on Monday I get the use of a patrol bike, so I suppose you could
borrow my scooter."
Nene was trying hard not smile or giggles as she made the offer.
Linna was unable to contain herself though and doubled up as she
pictured Priss in her leathers turning up to a gig on a scooter.
"Are you out of your mind ?
You think I going to be seen riding a *scooter* !"
A look of hurt crossed Nene's face; for she'd made the offer in all
sincerity, even though there was some humour in the situation.
"Now, now Priss. It was a very generous offer by Nene; especially
considering your past treatment of bikes."
Suitably chastised by Sylia's remark, Priss grumbled an apology,
"Sorry Nene, thanks for the offer I guess."
"I think Tempest may have a solution to your transport problem Priss."
Sylia said.
"That's going to be a little difficult since he's in a coma in the
clinic."
"If you'll let me finish before you go leaping in with both feet.
Tempest hinted he had a small collection of equipment and part of it
was some racing bikes."
"Hey racing bikes eh."
Priss's eyes lit up and her mood visibly lifted only to be dashed again
when Sylia continued.
"I don't want to you to be disappointed Priss.
Tempest did say old racing bikes; let me check the details."
She slit open the envelope Tempest had handed her back at Raven's.
Inside was a hand written note in Japanese; a list printed in English
and a small piece of transparent film with some markings on.
Some of the symbols were instantly recognisable though; 'Tenchi Muyo'
and a small arrow. {35}
After a moment Sylia looked up from the list.
"Well there's some old Japanese manufacturers names on there, but I
don't recognise anything here as being a bike."
Seeing Priss's look of disappointment at this piece of news, Sylia
handed her the list.
"Here take a look, you're more likely to recognise a bike from those
models than I am."
Looking down the list Priss's eyes were drawn to an entry with a thick
line through it. She held the paper up to the light and could now just
make out the words underneath the ink.
"Sylia ?"
"Yes, Priss ?"
Sylia wondered why Priss was holding the list to the light.
"What is the make and model of your car ?"
"Which one ?"
"You know, your old one."
Sylia smiled at Priss's use of the word old.
"Are you referring to my Mercedes Benz 300SLR ?"
"Yes that's just what it says here; 'Mercedes Benz 300SLR 2008 kay
eight eff'"
A look of surprise crossed Sylia's face as Priss read from the sheet.
"Repeat that last bit please."
"2008 kay eight eff"
"May I ?"
As Sylia reached for the list, Priss handed it back.
Sylia held it up to the light just as Priss had done and chuckled.
"That's not an eight Priss, it's an ampersand.
This list was prepared by Tempest and I guess old habits die hard.
That particular symbol is used as an abbreviation for the English word
'and'; this gives that line a great significance."
As she handed the list back to Priss, Sylia noted the puzzled looks on
everyone's faces. Even Mackie looked puzzled.
"Really I'm surprised at you Mackie; you shouldn't need me to spell
this out."
Sylia sighed gently before continuing.
"Perhaps I'd better explain, since everyone seems to have missed the
point. K and F - Katsuhiro and Fujiko, they married in 2008."
Mackie looked ashamed as the significance hit home.
"You mean the car was a present from Tempest ?"
"Possibly a weeding present even. Even then it would have been a
collector's item and worth several million yen."
"My god Sylia, so why do you drive it around ?
Today it must be worth many millions."
Linna burst out, horrified that it could easily have been damaged or
destroyed on many occasions.
"Relax, that's a replica. The original is safely locked up, but it does
get the occasional airing now and then."
Sylia said and reflected privately.
'It would seem Tempest's involvement with the House of Stingray is more
than just on an ex-patient level.
I wonder how many more surprises he holds for us ?'
"OH YES YES YES !"
The shout of joy from Priss startled everyone as she punched the air
exuberantly.
"Do I take it you have found something that slightly interests you ?"
Linna's sarcasm was completely lost on Priss at this point.
One arm was raised in a triumphant exultation and a large radiant smile
was etched on her face.
"So what have you found ?"
Nene asked.
"Just look at these !"
Priss held the list so Nene could read it and pointed out three of
entries.
"Honda RVF750R (1993)
Nolton NRS (1993)
Honda NSR500 (1995)" {36}
Nene read the names off the list.
"That's Norton, you dimwit."
Priss exclaimed exasperatedly.
Rather put out at Priss's response; Nene responded with a surly,
"Nolton, Norton.
Hmph, big difference."
Nene turned and resumed her examination of her printout.
"All those bikes are pure-bred racing machines.
The RVF750R won the Suzuka 8 hour endurance race.
Four bikes were entered and they each cost about 160,000,000 yen each;
trouble is they didn't handle very well.
The Norton was a twin rotor Wankel engine that was quite a fire
breather, but again a little poor in the handling department.
The NSR500, now that handled well and was quick; Schinicho Itoh rode
one and was clocked at over 320kph."
Priss let out a long sigh,
"I think I'm in love."
Her expression suddenly changed to that of concern though,
"The problem would be the fuel though; they won't run on this cheap
gasohol shit."
"Tempest did say all the vehicles were ready to use and would run on
standard fuel."
Sylia hoped this information would reassure Priss a little.
"How do we get at them ?"
Priss asked; her interest now revived.
"We don't, for now."
"Hey come on, I need wheels."
Priss protested.
"It will have to keep; the banks are closed until tomorrow."
Sylia explained.
"Damn."
She wasn't overjoyed at having to wait until the morning before getting
her hands on that Honda but resigned herself to a night in; unless ...
Sylia seemed to have read Priss's thoughts at that moment;
"You'd better give me the keys to the Ninja; just in case Tempest
requires it."
Nene chuckled inwardly; she'd looked up from the report and noted the
hint of a smile cross Sylia's face as Priss had asked for the keys.
Priss wasn't going to be able to sneak out on the Ninja tonight.
<End of Part 2.9>
TO BE CONTINUED ....
=======================================================================
Footnotes:
{30} Transceive - transmit and receive.
{31} WWLA = World Wide Law Association.
{32} MI5, MI6 = British Secret Service (Think about James Bond).
{33} short, short, long - Morse code for the letter 'U' i.e. Up
{34} Hey how'd the Lovely Angels get in here ??
{35} Sorry I'm not up to drawing ascii kanji.
Tenchi Muyo - This way up
{36} Okay Motorcycle nuts corner here ...
Suzuka 8 hour endurance race - This race ranks the highest
attention for Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. Typically Honda's
budget for this one race will match or even exceed the whole
year's spend for a World Super Bike season !
The four Honda RVF750R bikes built for the 1993 race cost well
over 1,000,000 pounds each - Built from "unobtanium" ^_^
The Norton NRS was a twin rotor Wankel engine that delivered about
145bhp (capacity was 666cc) compared to the 170bhp of the 1000cc
bikes it raced against. If the chassis had handled a bit better
then it might have done a lot better.
The Honda NSR500 handles well, puts out 180bhp (from 500cc) and
was clocked at over 200mph (320kph) with Schinicho Itoh riding.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Robin Smith 1995/96 Tempest@ktsabers.demon.co.uk
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-- Mink/Tempest aka Robin Smith Author: "BGC : The Tempest Chronicles"
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/2302 Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
"I was committed once, but the fools let me out for good behaviour !"
IRC : Mink or Tempest- [ but "Mink" most of the time ^_^ ]