At 06:53 AM 11/27/97 -0700, you wrote:

Prelude: Deal with the Devil

Boggs:  The divil y'say!

       "So, Miss, I believe that concludes my presentation. Protection
for my wife
our daughter and me. In return, ten million dollars to each of you and
hardsuits so advanced that your competition will be left in the dirt. I
think that strikes me as amiable."

Boggs:  English as she is spoke.
Mizu:  I'm not sure whether he's having trouble with the language,
or the author is.  If it's the character, you might want to explain
his lack of fluency.  If it's the author, then might we suggest
"proposal" instead of presentation-
Boggs:  Though it _is_ the christmas season.
Mizu:  -and "I hope you find this satisfactory", instead of 
"I think that strikes me as amiable".  Also, "and myself" sounds
better to me than "and me".

        Actually the author had too much coffee and wasn't paying attention
to what he was typing. Thanks. I'll fix that.

       The setting was a kitchen in a cozy apartment, somewhere in

Mega-Tokyo,

2016. It must've been a little past ten in the evening and the lights >were
turned down low, making it hard to see who was there, but two people 
were seated across the table.

Mizu:  Which caused some trouble since he ended up making his
offer to his babysitter rather than the hard-bitten mercenary
he thought he was talking to.  

        Heh... that's a spamfic right there.

       The blonde woman sitting across from the man flashed him a >grin,

"Doctor,

you have yourself a deal. When do we see these new hardsuits?"
       The tall dark man returned her grin, "I've already transferred

them to you

and your three compatriots. They merely need to be activated."

Boggs:  Uh-hunh.  How'd you do that, ace?  
Cog:  Might One suggest that the suits be summoned via small homing
devices very much like the "henshin sticks" used by the senshi?
Failing that, a surgically implantable version might be appropriate,
and would explain why someone of Usagi Tsukino's dubious aptitude
ends up as Saber Moon.  
Boggs:  And makes sure that their suits can't be taken away from them
as easily as they were given.  

        Good idea folks, but not quite. ^_^ It'll be explained.

     The child was reaching her arms out quietly to the man, obviously

asking

for an embrace, "Little Bunny wouldn't go to sleep without a hug from >her
Papa." His wife replied.

Boggs:  Bunny?
Mizu:  It's that Phillipine influence at work.  

        Proudly, Philippine Made. ^_^

child into his arms. He gave his wife a peck on the cheek. The little >girl
hugged the man's neck fiercely before consenting to be passed back to >he

mother.

Boggs:  Good ta know the divvil is a family man.  
Cog:  "her"

        Fixed.

       The blonde touched a finger to her ear as if listening to

something. Here

eyes widened mildly in surprise. "Doctor... you can forget about the >ten
million each." The blonde said cautiously after a moment.
       "I beg your pardon?" the man asked, whirling to face the >blonde.

Boggs:  Yer gonna go broke doing business that way.
Mizu:  The hard suits are worth far more, so she isn't sacrificing
as much as it would appear.  

       That was twenty years ago... even now he couldn't believe how

naive he'd

been. To have not given the designs for his nanotechnology immediately >to
New Moon Enterprises, had managed to actually delay the spread of his
technology considerably. But now... his research from way back when had >paid
off... materials could be manufactured easily and for a fraction of the
cost, cheap labor was now available in quantities unheard of. His >Neuma,
nanotechnological and biological constructs which could simulate the >form
and functions of humans without the attendant weaknesses.

Mizu:  It could be the Sabers have been infected with nanotech 
organism in their blood stream that enable them to transform into
Neuma ala Guyver.  Even then, I can't see how Chiba could have
done it without the girls noticing.  But it could explain hereditary
transmission of the power without any complicated plotting.  

        Precisely! But not hereditary... not quite...

Boggs:  O'course, if it's the same guy 20 years later, howcum 
his latest stuff ain't better than the Sabers?  
Mizu:  Perhaps he stole the credit for his wife's work, and she
has continued to improve the technology.  

        Mmm... nope...

       The woman slowly maneuvered herself to sit up in the bed, >yawning and
stretching as she did so. Chiba watched appreciatively.

Boggs:  That's one way ta beat gravity.

        Oh yes. ;P

      "But you're Director of Operations of New Moon Enterprises, >surely you
deserve to stay in bed a little more... after all," she grinned >wickedly,
"Didn't I tire you out enough last night?"

Cog:  Director of Research and Development is a more likely position,
given his background.  

        Possible... but this comes into play a bit more later...

       "Lady, we are the cops!" the man replied, flashing an AD Police badge.
"Detective Darien Chiba."

Boggs:  Waitasec!  His name's Chiba!
Mizu:  So?
Boggs:  Her father's name's Chiba!
Mizu:  So?
Boggs:  That makes him a brother or a cousin or something!
Mizu:  What's a little incest between friends?  Keep it in the family, that's
what I say!

        o/~ Vice is nice, incest is best, let's put your cousin to the test! o/~
        Not precisely... as indicated earlier, all will be revealed.

       "Look," Luna said, a mixture of impatience and anger on her feline

face,

"You are wearing a suit of powered combat armor. You have enough weapons on
board to level a city block and enough protection to take everything a tank
battalion can throw at you! You've got nothing to worry about!"

Mizu:  Except of course, accidentally levelling a city block.  In any case,
comments?  
Boggs:  Worked for me 'cept it sound like th' geneologies are gonna be kinda
strained.  

        <manic grin> What geneologies? Heh.

And I like the way it gave a reason why she can't just up an'
use the big gun right off.  Nice action scene.

        Thank you!

Cog:  One always finds an addition to the Bubblegum Crisis oeuvre welcome,
particularly when it does not involve the death of between one and four Sabers.
Mizu:  And Usagi is just so wacky, that she's the perfect pilot for a war
machine.  Kudos!

        I was sort of aiming to make her less of a crybaby, cowardly wimp
(which is sort of how she came across in the initial SM when she first
received her powers) and more of a relatively normal, if somewhat lazy woman
who's just a little overwhelmed by a rather huge responsibility.

        I hope to continue this soon... I've been reading Neuromancer
over... a little too much I think... this is definitely going to influence
Operation 2.