Special Thanks to Mark Latus who has graciously allowed me to use the
Character of Daniel Dumas in this Fan fic.  Also I would Like to thank
Jeanne Hedge for a good part of my inspiration in this.  My very Special
thanks to the both of them.  Also I would like to thank all of those
people that were Pre readers for me.
All characters except Shaelynn Benton, and Akira Asagiri are owned by
other people and sure as heck not me.  If this gets dark in parts it is
because my mind went wandering and got very twisted.  So please bear
with me.
Author's Preface:
All right I think I should explain a few things about this story.  First
off there are Espers in this world.  What I mean by Espers are people
that have varying degree of Psychic powers (i.e., Telepathy,
Telekinesis, Psychoportation, etc.  . . . )  From time to time I will
refer to any esper abilities as Talent.  Mostly due to the Anne
McCaffrey influence.  I will not have any of her characters show up in
this fic simply because they would not fit.
Secondly, The Character of Shaelynn Benton.  This character is VERY
toned down from my regular story.  I had decided to make him a very
believable character in the sense that he has character flaws and other
problems.  I would like to mention that his powers are very down scaled
due to the fact of how fun would this story be if you had a character
that was a god?  It would be boring as hell.  However, who is to say
that during the stories that I intend to write he may or may not get
more powerful.
Next I would also like to point out that there will be cameos throughout
this fic and others due to the nature of this series being so serious.
I decided to add cameos as well only at times when I think that they
would be funny.
Finally I would like to point out that certain characters in this story
will be acting totally against what would be considered the norm for
this type of world and for what is considered normal for them.  I did
this intentionally because if I did not then the whole idea would be
very unplausible.  I have decided to give a certain couple of characters
a very sensitive side that is there but is seldom seen.
Well without further self gratification let's get on with the Show!
BGC Presents: Bubble Gum Explosion: Episode #1: Tragedy and Romance
Date: Monday, 05 September 2034
Sylia was not having a very good week at all.  For starters her, brother
Mackie had totally disappeared.  There was a mysterious fellow who was
stalking Priss.  Nene was on sick leave from the AD Police.  Also to
make matters worse, there was some unknown person in town that had a
hard suit.
She was sure that she was the only one that had that type of design.
The renegade hardsuit made its appearance month ago, when six 55-C
boomers swarmed it.  Despite a valiant effort, the boomers had nearly
killed the wearer.  His survival was totally dependant on perfect, or
rather lucky timing, which allowed him to flee death.
The renegade had totally disappeared until last night.  After they had
returned from their latest job, Sylia had analyzed the data obtained by
Nene on that mysterious hard suit.  That hardsuit produced twice the
power Nene's suit was capable of.  As she got a full breakdown on this
suit's specs, she found that it had several different weapons on it.  It
carried blade cannons on the back, electrical daggers on each arm, a
high-powered Microwave Laser on each shoulder, and blades that extended
from the heel that had a serrated edge on it.
‘What was this person trying to take on?  An army?' Sylia asked herself
when she finished looking the blueprints over.  ‘This looks like
something Priss would want if I gave her the luxury of a new suit right
now.  Until I find someone to replace Mackie even temporarily, I can't
worry about suit upgrades yet.'
Sighing, she went to check the answering machine to see if there was any
word from Fargo.  Just her luck, Fargo had decided to grace her with
some word off the streets.
"Sylia this is Fargo.  I just wanted to let you know that I did some
research into this person that you told me about.  It seems that he is
the son of a Dr. Emmett Benton.  Just to let you know he has the item in
question.  I am still looking into how he got it but that may take some
time.  I have sent you all I could find out about him.  Oh, and Sylia,
it looks like Genom wants him too, so be careful."
When she finished the messages, she went to get the things that Fargo
had sent her.  Finding what she needed she settled down to read it.
‘Hmm, Shaelynn Benton that name sounds familiar.' Sylia thought.  ‘Oh,
now I remember he was the other Valedictorian when I was in school.
Anyway let me see graduated from MIT with a Master's degree in
engineering,  IQ of close to 230, has a Photographic memory.  Height
6'0" weight 120 pounds.'  Sylia thought as she skimmed through it.
"Wait a minute he's six foot tall and only weighs one-hundred twenty
pounds?  How can that be possible?" Sylia said in shock.
"Well I'll figure that out later, now to see about his parents.  Father:
Dr. Emmett Benton was a principal shareholder in a company that is the
third largest in the world.  Mother: Melinda Benton she was, before she
died, a martial arts instructor.  It says that she taught Kenjutsu,
Akijutsu, and Kempo.  Not bad combination.  Now let me see he has three
living sisters and three living brothers." Sylia said.  "Perhaps I can
use him after all.  I do need a new mechanic since Mackie left the
country and Dr. Raven is unable to work anymore.  Although, with that
photographic memory of his, it could be a problem.  Well, I think I will
pay him a visit to see him for myself." Sylia said as she closed the
packet and put it away.
"But first I need to find out about who paid for his education." Sylia
said just as she was about to walk out of the apartment.  "I don't want
to hire someone that was backed by Genom. He could be a liability to us
more than an asset.  Plus there is the possibility that he could try to
steal my suit designs for himself."
Going over to her computer terminal she accessed the financial records
of Shaelynn's schooling.  It turns out that Shaelynn's education was
paid for in full by a company called COM-TECH, INC.  Deciding to go
deeper she found that COM-TECH was the third largest company and was not
on good terms with Genom.  She also found out that every time Genom
tried to undermine the company COM-TECH had a special security force,
that was supposedly made up of Espers that dealt with the problems.
"I see Mr. Benton employed Espers as a security force.  Why would he
want to do that?" Sylia asked herself.  "But do I want to take the risk
of hiring someone that Genom wants killed?   Besides, what would his
father have that would have made him a target for assassination by
Genom?   Plus I wonder if he has any connections to the blue hard suit
that we saw last night?  If so I would like to know how he got my
designs?"
Finally finding an address, Sylia sat and pondered whether or not to go
and talk to Shaelynn.  She really needed a mechanic.  His address
indicated that he was an owner of a Repair and Custom shop.
"I guess that it might be worth the risk, but I am not ready to tell him
my true reasons for needing him." Sylia said as she left
******
Last week had been hell for Shaelynn. Already, he was low on cash, and
his suit needed some major repairs.  The last fight had been draining
and had left him exhausted.  On top of which he had the bruises and
scrapes to prove it. He had to fight on his own power and avoid taking
any more damage to his suit.  How long had it been since he had his
"Blue Knight" armor in top working condition?  At his last count it had
been over a month.
It did not help matters much when he decided to tackle those six 55-C
Boomers by himself and nearly got killed in the process.  But that was
the first actual field test of his suit that he built after receiving a
mysterious Data Unit in the mail on his 18th birthday.
Shaelynn was busy working on his motorcycle that he attempted to use to
out race that Griffon last year.  That was stupid and he knew it.   He
should have known that the way that the Griffon was modified it would be
much faster than a normal Griffon.  Shaelynn was stubborn as a mule.  He
just had to try to outrace it and lost.  He should have noticed that the
car was overly modified and there was no chance that he would have been
able to out race it.  The coveralls that he was wearing just seemed to
hang off of his very thin frame.  In fact according to some people he
was too thin, but his hyper-metabolism caused him to never gain weight.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the car pull up and the
door open.
As he pushed his black hair out of his dark-blue eyes, he saw a familiar
person standing in his garage.  The face was familiar but he could quite
think of the name right now.  It was a woman of average height and build
and she was wearing a brown business suit that looked as if it would
need to be pealed off when she got home. [Author's note: The outfit that
I am talking about is her brown skirt suit!! Tight fitting ain't it?]
Her expression was almost unreadable, but Shaelynn could easily read
past the look of stone. He was rare type of Esper having three types of
Esper powers telekinesis, telepathy, and the ability to teleport; so
reading a person's thought's was not a problem. Plus the outfit was
really getting his attention.
"Can I help you?" Shaelynn asked trying not to stare to hard.
"Well I was looking for a mechanic who would be willing to work on a few
projects that I have to have done." The woman said.
"First off I need to know who I'll be working for." Shaelynn said
cautiously.  He deserved to be cautious after two Genom thugs came in
and started nosing around.  For that matter he did not know if she was
with them or not.
It took all of his will not to want to "lift" the wrenches off of the
work bench while he had a guest here.  For him to do something like that
would cause her to get suspicious.  He didn't trust her right now
because she was being so evasive as to her real intentions.  Plus the
way that she would just stare at him made him really nervous.
"My name is Sylia Stingray." She said. "My current mechanic is away for
the time being and I need someone I can trust.  And your name sir?"
"Shaelynn, Shaelynn Benton!" Shaelynn said.
"I see." Sylia said.
"So why come to me?" Shaelynn asked as he sat back down to finish
working on his bike.
"Well I have a hunch that you could be a very trustworthy fellow.  Not
to mention you are overly qualified too." Sylia said.
"Ok, so maybe I am, but how about I think about it first?" Shaelynn
asked her.
"Sure take your time," Sylia said.  "You know you might want to keep
that thing hidden so people don't find out who you are." She then said
indicating the suit in the corner.
"That?!" Shaelynn said.  "It's just a piece of junk." He then said as he
flipped a tarp over it.
"I see." Sylia said.  ‘Who is he trying to fool?  So he is the Blue
Knight!  Where did he get my designs?  Why is Genom after him in the
first place?' Sylia thought as she looked over his shop.  It was neat
and tidy but it had the feel of it was functional and could be used.
Sylia noticed on the back wall two katanas arranged in an "X" pattern
with the hilts facing the floor.
"Are they authentic?" Sylia asked.
"What?" Shaelynn asked as he looked at what she was talking about.
"The swords."
"Oh yeah, they are authentic alright.  They are from around 1610 AD.  I
heard that they were folded over 5000 times."
"Oh?"
"Never really saw the need to use them so I just keep them out for show
only.  But I heard that one could go through an engine block easily!"
"Really?"
"Yeah so I am told."
"Well, I got to go.  Please tell me if you decide one way or the other
about the job."
"Ok I will."
As Shaelynn watched her leave, he knew that she was right, he should do
a better job of hiding it. If she knew that he was the "Blue Knight,"
then who is to say that someone else has not already figured it out.  He
would not have been surprised if Genom knew as well.  There was no way
that he could fix his suit without some cash.  Maybe he would take the
job offered if only to get cash to fix his suit.   Shaelynn knew that he
could use the facilities at COM-TECH to fix his suit.  He also knew that
if he were to go there right now there would more than likely be several
Genom agents waiting for him.
The question that tugged at his mind was what was the project that she
wanted him to work on?  He realized that he could have scanned her mind
to find out the truth.  Shaelynn knew that to scan someone's mind with
out their permission was wrong.  He also had one other problem how could
he get hold of her to tell her that he was interested in the job.
Shaelynn did not trust her at all.  He had good reason not to trust
her.  This puzzled him though.  How did she know just where to look and
who to ask for.  For all he knew was the she could be working for Genom
too and wanted the Data Unit that he kept hidden.  Yet something in her
manner said that she did not like Genom. Shaelynn was not going to take
any chances at all in regards to this.  If anything he would find out
more when she came back to get his answer.  But before then he needed to
do some digging on her as well.  This was to be certain that he could
actually trust her.  He was hungry, so he decided to clean up and go
into town to eat.
******
Later that afternoon Sylia had just finished closing Silky Dolls for the
evening when two women came in.  One was a red head and the other was a
black haired woman wearing a black business suit.
"Well ladies I think we may have a new mechanic soon." Sylia said.
"Oh who is it?" The red head asked excitedly.
"Well Nene, his name is Shaelynn Benton." Sylia said coolly.  "Plus I
think he can be trusted not to tell anyone who we really are."
"Are you absolutely sure Sylia?  I mean can he really be trusted?" The
black-haired one asked.
"Your point has some merit in it Linna." Sylia said.  "Now Linna I want
you and Nene to find him and keep a close eye on him."
"What about Priss?" Nene asked.  "Shouldn't we tell her as well?
Besides we don't even know where he hangs out."
"Well he always frequents Hot Legs so I suppose you can find him there.
I will tell Priss about this myself.  Also I want you two to check into
some things that I have been wondering about him." Sylia said as she
finished locking the shop for the night.
"Right We'll go and find him." Linna said.  "What exactly do you want us
to check into for you?"
"I need to know everything about him.  Where he lives, if he has any
family, where they live." Sylia said.  "Let's just say I want to know
all there is to know about him.
******
Shaelynn had just finished cleaning himself and decided to go to his
usual hang out to eat and catch a show.  This was the one time that he
did not mind getting dirty.  It was a change from the constant suits and
ties that he had to wear when his presence was required at Com-Tech.
Shaelynn had always left explicit instructions to only get him if what
ever was being worked on needed his approval.  Getting on his spare
bike, he tore down the highway into town.  He loved to ride fast
regardless of the time, and tonight was no exception.
There was heavy traffic on the streets and deciding to be daring, or
defiant, Shaelynn started to weave in and out of traffic.  Occasionally
he would pass between two cars that were side by side each other.  He
had managed to scare three people as he tore past their cars.  Glancing
down at his speedometer he noticed that he was going at 180 kph that was
at least 50 kph over the limit.  Maybe it was good fortune today, but
this was the first time that he didn't get a ticket for reckless
driving, let alone he was glad that he did not wreck his bike.
Not worrying about it right now, Shaelynn found the club that he usually
went to.  It was a seedy joint but the music was good and, granted the
food tasted like crap, he enjoyed the atmosphere.  Eating his fill, he
went onto the main floor to find a good spot to wait for the concert to
start.  Shaelynn also noticed a familiar face in the waiting fans.  His
younger brother Tommy was here as well.  This was a welcome sight to all
of the other faces in the crowd.  Between Shaelynn and Tommy they always
knew when the band here had a gig and never missed a show.
Also tonight for some reason he got this chill that ran down his spine,
as he waited for the show.  He could not tell if the feeling was good or
bad.  The feeling was very vague at best.  There were four unfamiliar
faces in the crowd that he had never seen or, for that matter,
remembered.  He knew every face in the crowds of people after only
seeing them once.  It was amazing that he could remember all of the
patrons names or faces after only one meeting.  Shaelynn had perfect
recall.  That was his blessing, or his curse as he called it.
He remembered vividly seeing two boomers kill his mother and father in
the years after the Second Kanto Earthquake.  But since his sisters also
lived in Tokyo he was raised by a good family.  Yet these four were new
to the club or so he thought.
Extending a tendril of thought out, he lightly scanned their minds to
check their true intentions.  The first mind he touched was that of a
very bubbly red head who almost had too much to drink.
‘No threat there.  Still she should be careful on how much she drinks.'
Shaelynn thought.  ‘Oh I see Sylia sent her and the other one with her
to keep an eye on me.  A clever woman!'
The next mind that he touched was that of her companion.  She was
mulling over stocks and bonds, while keeping a discreet eye on Shaelynn.

‘Also, not a threat.  Yet she is money crazed.  Pity that she is so
fickle when it comes to men.  She would almost be cute if not for that.
I see that she is also here at Sylia's request.'  Shaelynn thought.
The third mind that he felt was interesting.  It felt as if he were
touching the mind of another Esper.  Yet he thought that he was the only
Esper in the building.  The most overriding thought in his mind was ‘she
better not get killed.  If she even gets hurt by that bastard he will be
sorry.'
‘Ok a possible threat.  I don't know who this guy is but he seems to be
powerful.  I hope that he doesn't get out of control.  I don't think I
could stop him.'   Shaelynn thought with a shudder.
The final unfamiliar mind that he sensed really scared him.  He was
looking into the mind of a sociopathic murderer.
‘Ok a definite threat.  Not to me but to whom?' Shaelynn wondered.
‘Could it be to the band? I don't know.  I sure hope that it is not the
band that he is a threat to.'
While waiting, the people moved in closer the two women that were at the
bar were on either side of him, Tommy had moved closer to the stage and
that got Shaelynn very nervous for some reason, and the sociopath was in
front of him.  The thing was he had brushed against Shaelynn and he had
managed to get a deep reading on him.
‘The son of a bitch will kill the lead singer if I don't do something'
Shaelynn thought when he passed by.  ‘Question is how to stop him?  And
especially without causing a horrible racket in the process.'  The other
man was in a dark corner waiting to see the show.  He was eying the man
in front of Shaelynn and more importantly Shaelynn and his younger
brother as well. It was obvious that Shaelynn was nervous.  Somebody was
watching him and his brother.  This unnerved him and he started to get
jumpy.
"Hey why are you sho nervous?" the red head slurred, which caused
Shaelynn to jump in fright.
"Um shouldn't she be taken home if she is so drunk?" Shaelynn asked as
he looked at her.
"I'm snot drunk," the red head replied.
"Yes you are.  Um would you take her home?"  Shaelynn asked her friend.
"Sorry, but we are here for the duration of the concert.  Nene you are a
real pain you know that?" The black-haired woman said to her friend.
"If you start to strip I don't know who you are!"
"No, I'm not a pain Linna." Nene said.  "And who said anything about me
stripping?"
Ignoring the exchange Shaelynn could see that the show was about to
start.  The music was going and the lead singer was strutting around the
stage smiling and looking the crowd over.  He knew that she always
started her show the same way, but when she started with a new song,
Shaelynn was impressed.  It was obvious that she liked to keep her fans
guessing.  It was an up tempo song and he liked it.  During one of her
usual songs that sociopath decided to attempt to make his move.
However, as he tried to move forward he found himself stuck in his
tracks.  Looking around he could not see anyone that was grabbing him,
so he waited patiently.  Linna and Nene however, could see that Shaelynn
was concentrating on something.  They did not know what it was, but it
was starting to take an effect on him, because they could see him
starting to sweat.
The concert ended and everyone left including that sociopath.  Shaelynn
noticed that the man in the dark corner of the bar just melted into the
shadows and vanished.   The way he seemed to disappear began to eat at
the back of Shaelynn's mind.  Apparently, either the man could create
very convincing illusions or was actually able to use the shadows to
move.  Tommy and  Shaelynn went into the other half of the club to get
some beer, to relax.  While Shaelynn was relaxing, he spied the lead
singer of the band.  Getting up from his seat, Shaelynn went over to
talk to her.  Tommy on the other had was content to watch his older
brother from his table and continued to sip on his beer.  Tommy knew
that Shaelynn was just being friendly and was just wanting to talk to
her.  Tommy was the one that had fallen in love with her after coming to
one her concerts.  He knew that constantly following someone around is
wrong so he was content to come to her concerts.  Even though he knew
all of her songs by heart he loved to hear her sing each and every one
of them.
"Um, mind if I sit?" Shaelynn asked indicating the open bar stool next
to her.
"If you want." She said.
Shaelynn was at a loss for what to say.  He decided to introduce
himself.
"I was wondering, why do you and the other guy at the table back there
always show up to all my shows?" She asked.  "You aren't some crazed
fans are you?"
"Well to answer your questions; first, we just like your music, and
Second, no we are not crazed fans." Shaelynn said in his own defense.
"You know I don't even know your name.  I mean here I am liking your
music and I don't have a name to put with some of the best music I have
ever heard."
"My name is Priss, of Priss and the Replicants.  For someone who likes
the music and don't even know who the group is?  Geez you are pathetic!"
She said.  "Now who the hell are you?  You aren't some stupid record
exec. are you?"
"Well Priss, my name is Shaelynn, and no I am not a record exec.
either.  I just own a garage nearby where I work on motorcycles.  I do a
little customizing too." Shaelynn said.  "My sister own the recording
studio.  To be quite honest with you I think that you might be someone
that my sister would want sign."
"Shaelynn you said your name was?  I don't know about signing with your
sister's label but I might just look into it." Priss said.  "You have
just made yourself a friend.  Tell me do you ride?"
"Yep!  Sure do.  My bike is out front." Shaelynn said.  "Why?  You up
for a late night ride or something?"
"Sure if your bike can keep up with mine." Priss said challengingly.
"I can sure try." Shaelynn said rising up to the challenge.
"Well let me get changed and then we'll see." Priss said.
"Ok I will wait outside for you." Shaelynn said as he left the club.
‘She's a nice person in her own way.  Yet she does need someone to help
her up when she falls.  Someone who can always be there for her.  Sides
she's not my type though.'  Shaelynn thought sadly.  ‘Yet I have noticed
the way that Tommy looks at her.  Is my little brother in love with
Priss?  I hope he doesn't let his heart lead him around.  It could be
his undoing.'
Tommy caught up Shaelynn and told him that he had some things to take
care of and would see him later.  After saying good bye to him, Shaelynn
went outside to wait for Priss.
******
While waiting outside for Priss to show up, Shaelynn had a chance
encounter with the person that he thought might be an Esper.
"Hey buddy." He said.
"Huh, who's there?" Shaelynn asked looking around.
"Me that's who." The voice said.
"Does this me have a name?" Shaelynn asked.
"Akira Asagiri." He said stepping out of the shadows.
"Well Akira what can I do for you?" Shaelynn asked.
"I will tell you only after I know who you are." Akira said.
"Fair enough, my name is Shaelynn Benton.  Now what can I do for you?"
Shaelynn said.
"I sensed your scan in the club, and just as a warning, I wouldn't  do
it again.  I would have no qualms about killing you, if you tried that,
or even a deep scan.  Why do you think I didn't offer to shake your
hand?" Akira said.
"True enough.  Is that it?" Shaelynn asked.
"One more thing, If anything happens to my baby sister Priss, I will
find the person that hurt her and I will make sure that he or she will
pay the ultimate price.  I pity anyone who tries to stop me."  Akira
said as he disappeared back into the shadows.
‘Oh crap!  So I was right in thinking that he was an Esper.  Oh this is
really cute, now that I know that he is Priss' older brother this has
gone from bad to worse.  Could Priss be an Esper too?' Shaelynn
thought.  "What is taking Priss so long?" Shaelynn wondered out loud.
******
Priss had just finished changing into her riding leathers when her pager
went off.  How was she going to explain this one to Shaelynn when she
was just now unable to go for that ride?  Finding a phone, she called
Sylia.
"Sylia what's up I got your page." Priss said quietly on the phone.
"Is anyone listening?" Sylia asked.
"Nope." Priss said.
"Well it seems that Genom let loose a very nasty Boomer on the city and
the AD Police can't stop it." Sylia said rather upset.
"That figures!  AD Police is just a bunch of weaklings.  All right I'll
be there in a few minutes, I just have to cancel an appointment with a
friend."   Priss said.
"Who is the friend?" Sylia asked.
"He's one of the regulars at the club.  Name's Shaelynn." Priss said.
"I see, well hurry up." Sylia said.
"Ok." Priss said and hung up the phone.  ‘Damn and here I was looking
forward to a nice long ride with him to see if he is really as good as
he claims to be.'  Priss thought as she left the club.
******
 Just as Shaelynn was about to leave, he saw Priss coming out of the
back door.  Running over to meet her, he thought he saw something.
Thinking it was nothing he met up with Priss.  When he saw her she
looked really upset.
"Priss is there something wrong?" Shaelynn asked.
"No just that I'll have to cancel our ride tonight." Priss said.  "I
just remembered that I had already made plans.  Maybe some other time?"
"Sure I understand." Shaelynn said.  "Well it was good meeting you
Priss." He said as he extended his hand.
"Likewise." Priss said as she shook it.
At that casual contact he had got a very deep scan of her not on purpose
but just by the pure nature of his powers.  Shaking his head he just
smiled as she rode off.
‘My damned powers.'  Shaelynn swore mentally.  ‘Why did I have to be
cursed with them?  I can't have any casual contact without deeply
scanning someone and finding out all there is about them.  I really hate
them now more than ever.  Hold on, Priss is a what?  There is just no
way that Priss is one of the Knight Sabers. Yet if she is then why in
the world would she want anything to do with me?'
Getting on his bike he started to ride for home.  However, on his way
home he came across a fire fight between the AD Police and a dangerous
Boomer.  It was  twelve feet tall and was just down right ugly.  This
thing had two units of the AD Police pinned down with its laser fire.
On top of that there was no way to even deflect the attacks.  This was a
fight that AD Police was not going to win.  Not even by a long shot.
What they needed was a miracle.
There was an Esper in the group as well.  She was inexperienced in field
combat.  She was a very powerful Telekinetic in her own right.  This was
one of the reasons that she requested to be a part of the main troops.
When this boomer fired near her she almost screamed in panic.  What
stopped her from screaming was the fact that she sensed another Esper
approaching.  Something about him caused her to calm down.  It did not
help matters much that there was three officers down and no way to get
to them.
Shaelynn, in a panic, grabbed his front breaks and pitched forward off
his bike.  He skidded along the pavement to with in inches of the downed
officers.  How he managed to avoid the hail of bullets was anyone's
guess.  Some how Shaelynn was able to shield both himself and the downed
officers from the Boomer and the bullets that whizzed overhead.
‘Crap!  Now what in the hell do I think I am doing?  Shaelynn asked
himself.  I can't get them or myself to safety the easy way without
blowing my cover.  If anyone knew that I was an Esper I would be a dead
man!!'
Just as he thought he was going to die, he saw a flash of silver.
Looking up he saw one of the Knight Sabers standing in front of him.  It
was their leader the one in silver and blue.
"Hold on I'll get you and them to safety." She said.  Shaelynn felt
himself being picked up and carried out of the battle zone.  The Knight
Saber then picked up the others and got them out as well.  Picking
himself up, he figured that he should try to help out as best that he
could.
Watching the Knight Sabers fight, he decided to surprise them a little.
Focusing on the Blue Knight Saber's weapon, the blade cannons, he waited
until she shot at the boomer.  The response was one that she was not
even expecting.  Instead of the blade imbedding into the Boomer, it went
completely inside that monstrosity and exploded.  The hole that it left
was big enough to stick a fist through.
Taking advantage of this, the one in green and gold threw her
electrified daggers into the hole and proceeded to short the boomer
out.  The others the came in and helped destroy it.
Shaelynn also, Telekineticly pulled any of the AD Police officers that
went down out of the line of fire and shielded them as well.  This fight
was very nasty and Shaelynn wished that he could have helped out but his
suit was not in working condition none to say the least.  Plus there was
no way that he could use his abilities to affect that boomer.  If only
he was able to do more.
Feeling satisfied with himself, Shaelynn headed for home to do some late
night work.  As soon as Shaelynn got home he went to his terminal and
started to do his digging on Sylia Stingray.  Finding a lot of
information he keyed his printer to print it off while he took a nice
long bath.
"Oh man what was I thinking?" Shaelynn asked himself as he soaked in the
tub.  "I should've known better than to try to save them with out my
armor.  I could've been killed and then the woman that I really like
would never even know.  Course she doesn't even know to begin with.
Besides what do I tell her in the first place?  I can't walk up to her
and just blurt out how I feel about her.  That would be very rude."
Finishing his bath Shaelynn changed into a pair of shorts and a
sleeveless shirt and grabbed the print outs of what he found.  Looking
at his terminal he saw that the information had a tracer built into it.
Swearing about his carelessness, Shaelynn covered his tracks as best
that he could.
"Now let's see what I have found out about Ms. Stingray." Shaelynn said
as he settled down on the couch with a soda.  "Name: Sylia Stingray.
Born: March 15, 2010. Parents: Doctor Katsuhito Stingray and Cassandra
Stingray.  Went to High school at Juban High.  Was one of two
Valedictorians.  Wait a minute!  Juban High that place is familiar.
Well aside from the fact that I went there as well.  I could swear that
I have heard of the Principal that was there.  Makoto Kino-Adams.  That
name really sounds familiar."
"Ok that explains the who about her." Shaelynn said.  "Let's see,
Father: Died in 2022, Mother: Missing since 2020.  Has one younger
brother.  Name: Mackie Stingray.  Current whereabouts: Missing since
August 23, 2034.  That was right after the incident of a terrorist
attempt to blow up the Fusion reactor.  Terrorist my eye!!  That was
fuckin' Largo.  The little twerp doesn't know the meaning of the word
die dose he?  Just what in the world happened to Mackie anyway?"
"Anyway, Place of Employment: Owner of Silky Dolls Lingerie Shop."
Shaelynn said.  "There is no way in hell that I am going in there any
time soon.  Well I am definitely sure that she has no connections to
Genom what so ever, I think.  I guess I will take the job after all, but
I need to know more about her.  Something about the way she was acting
just isn't right."
After Shaelynn finished reading the Data on Ms. Stingray, he fell asleep
on the couch and drifted of into a long dream-filled sleep.  In the
middle of the night Shaelynn wakes up and has a flash of insight.
"My Vice President's name is Kino-Adams.  I think he said that his
father's name was Shane Adams and his mother was principal at the High
School where he went as a kid." Shaelynn said as he sat bolt upright.
"Course the guy is only 30.  It is scary that I am 24 and the head of
the third largest company and my Vic-President is older than me."
After that Shaelynn went back to sleep.
******
Sylia woke up in a sweat.  Looking at the clock she saw that is said
2:45 a.m. This was the third time in as many days that she was having
this same nightmare.  It always happens the same way.  She finds herself
facing a mirror and her reflection stepped out.  It then proceeded to
ask her one question.  "Can you truly be happy the way you are?" When
she does not answer, the reflection threw her into the mirror.  Trapped
behind the mirror she began to panic.  Then she woke up.
This time when she had the nightmare it was different in some way.  The
dream happened as normal, but after she was trapped behind the mirror
she saw a figure surrounded in light.  Looking at it she felt at peace.
Then the figure disappeared again and the blackness closed in around
her.
"Why am I having this nightmare?" Sylia asked herself.  "Of course I am
happy the way I am.  Yet, the figure in the light made me feel at peace
for the first time in twelve years.  Who is that figure?"
Focusing on that figure she went back to sleep.  The rest of her sleep
was not troubled at all.  In fact her dream were very peaceful.  One was
a scene of her getting married to a very tall man with dark hair.
Another was of her dying in her husband's arms.  The figure that held
her was still shrouded in darkness.  In this one the last thing that she
heard was him saying ‘I Love you my darling.' Waking up one more time
this time not as disturbed as before Sylia just shook this one off and
went back to sleep
The next day Sylia decided to pay Shaelynn a visit to see if he had
decided on her offer or not.  If he did agree then she could start very
slowly having him work on little projects for her.  If he completed them
up to her standards then she would start trusting him to work on their
suits and Motoroids.
"Well he should agree to the job, besides he needs to fix his suit and
that takes money to do that." Sylia said.  "Question is where is he
getting the materials to build it and how did he get my designs?  I sure
hope that he is not working for Genom."
   Deciding on what she was going to do, she got dressed and left to go
speak to him.
******
Shaelynn was up at his usual time of 6:00 am.  He drove  over at his
shop and practice room to work out.  He had just finished several of his
forms and decided to go shower and eat breakfast.  At 9:00 he started to
open his shop for business.  As soon as he opened the garage door he
started to exercise his mental muscles.
Standing with his back to the open door, Shaelynn concentrated and then
his motorcycle that he was working on started to move over to the spot
that he needed it to be in.  Once again he was not paying any attention
to his surroundings.  He was so busy moving things into place that the
sound of footsteps did not even register until it was too late.
"Um Mr. Benton." The voice said and was greeted with silence from
Shaelynn.
"May I ask just what you are doing?" The voice said again.
Turning around Shaelynn saw Sylia standing there with a shocked
expression.  Yelling in fright, Shaelynn dropped the box of tools all
over the floor behind him.
"Uh you saw what I was . . . Oh crap!!" Shaelynn said feeling very
guilty.  This was the first time, aside from his family, that anyone had
actually saw him using his powers this openly.
"Yes I did, could you please clarify what it was I actually saw." Sylia
said after she recovered from the shock.
"This could take some time and I don't have it to explain right now."
Shaelynn said.  "What can I do for you though?" Shaelynn asked as he
picked up the tools on the floor.
"I came to ask you if you were interested in my offer?" Sylia asked.
"Yes I am interested, but I have a couple of questions for you."
Shaelynn said.
"Ok.  What are they?" Sylia asked.
"First, just what am I going to be doing for you, and aside from
thinking that you can trust me, what do you really need me for?"
Shaelynn asked bluntly.
"Well I need you to come up with a system that can measure performance
levels on Boomers." Sylia said.
"On Boomers?" Shaelynn asked as he turned around.  "Wait a minutes now I
remember where I have heard your name before."
"You have?" Sylia asked cautiously.
"Yeah, You're Dr. Stingray's daughter aren't you?  Dad was a colleague
of his while he was alive."  Shaelynn said.  "A system that measures
performance levels on boomers huh?" Well I'll come up with something and
let you know Ok?"
"Yes I am his daughter." Sylia said very nervously.  "Now I have a
question for you.  If you are the son of Dr. Benton then why are you
running a repair and custom shop for motorcycles instead of in charge of
his company?"
"Oh that?  Well I had to open this place when I was 17.  It was a deal
that I made with Dad to prove to him that I was worthy to run his
company when I turned 18." Shaelynn said with a very proud grin."  Then,
in December of 2027 my parents were killed by two supposedly rouge
boomers.  The AD Police ruled it off as a random act of violence and
that was the end of it.  I knew the truth of the whole matter." Shaelynn
then said shuddering.
"I see." Sylia said.  "Look if you knew the truth then why didn't you do
something about it."
"And end up dead like Mom and Dad did?" Shaelynn snapped.  "If I even
tried to do anything toward Genom then my siblings and I would have been
killed."
"Listen I am truly sorry if I brought up some painful memories but I had
to know." Sylia said as she laid a hand on his arm.
Shaelynn had a look of shock on his face the instant that she touched
him.  Everything that happened to Sylia came flooding in.  Even that she
was the leader of the Knight Sabers.  There was one strange image that
he saw.  It was of a man about his height and build in a glowing light
with a very serene look on his face.
"It's not you fault." Shaelynn said smiling.  "You're the only one to
ever ask me about it.  Um I'll have that done within the week."
"Alright I will be back on Saturday to pick it up." Sylia said as she
left in rush.
"Bye and see you on Saturday." Shaelynn said as he watched her leave.
‘Once again I scanned someone with out their permission.  Damn it!
That's it, I am wearing gloves and long sleeves year round.  Yet why did
she have that image in her mind?  Does it have something to do with her
nightmares that she has been having?  I don't know it's not my problem.'
Shaelynn growled mentally.  "She shouldn't be so cold to everyone."
Shaelynn said outloud.
About that time Shaelynn heard the sound of a motorcycle that sounded
like it needed to be tuned up.  Looking up he saw the motorcycle coming
in his shop and then just fall apart.  The person riding it was not very
happy.  As soon as the rider pulled of the helmet Shaelynn recognized
her.
"Priss, what the hell did you do to your bike?" Shaelynn asked in
shock.  He knew from when he shook Priss' hand that she considered her
bikes her babies. Granted she rode them to within an inch of their
lives, but that was how she rode.
"I didn't, some ass hole decided to try and trash it." Priss said in
disgust.
"Geez Priss who'd even dare do something like that?" Shaelynn asked.
"I don't know," Priss said nervously.  "But I have an idea."
"Priss, I don't mean to pry but is there something wrong?" Shaelynn
asked her as he moved her bike into the shop.
"Um no there isn't a thing wrong." Priss said dismissing his question
without even answering it.
"Yes there is Priss.  I can tell by just the way you're acting that
something's got you spooked." Shaelynn said as he grabbed her by the
arm.  "Now please as a friend tell me what is wrong and perhaps I can
help you."
"Alright already." Priss said as she wrenched free of his grasp.  "Can
we talk in your office though?"
"Sure Priss." Shaelynn said as he lead her to his office and shut the
door.
"Now what's wrong?  You look as if you are in some kind of trouble.
Well are you?" Shaelynn asked as sat down on the edge of the desk.
"Well so long as you tell no one this." Priss started.
"You have my word of honor that I will not say a word to anyone."
Shaelynn said.
"Well I think that someone is following me.  I don't know why, but that
is what is going on." Priss said shaking.  "I have seen this man
constantly.  He seems to know where I go and what I do.  I am afraid
that he wants to kill me."
"Priss if that's what's wrong why didn't you tell the Police that you
are being followed by someone?" Shaelynn asked.
"Why?  They'd just brush it off." Priss snapped back.
"Priss I realize that, but what I don't understand is why would anyone
want to kill you?" Shane asked very concerned.
"I don't know either." Priss said still shaking.  "Oh could I use the
phone to call someone for a ride home?"
"Sure Priss." Shaelynn said as he pushed the phone over so she could use
it and stepped out of the office to allow her some privacy.  ‘I bet it's
that idiot that I stopped in the club the other night'. Shaelynn
thought.  ‘Why is he following her and what does he want to kill her
for?  This is getting stranger by the minute.  What in the world have I
gotten myself into?'
After Priss finished her phone call, she came out into the shop area.
As she did so Shaelynn's hair on the back of his neck started to stand
on end.  It was a feeling that he had only one time before in his entire
life.  Looking around he saw Priss' older brother standing in the garage
door.
"Um, Priss do you know him?" Shaelynn asked pointing to the guy in the
door.
Priss just stood and stared in shock.  "Y-yeah I know him.  He is my
older brother Akira."
"Your older brother?  Are you afraid of him or something?" Shaelynn
asked Priss noticing the look of shock on her face.
"Wouldn't you be if your older brother could always tell what you were
thinking?" Priss asked in shock.  "That's just not natural."
"I've heard of people like that.  I believe they are called Espers or
something like that." Shaelynn said.  "Priss, what you may not realize
is that there are parts of our minds that we don't even use.  Whose to
say that those Espers just had those parts of their brains activated
when they were born."
"It's just not natural I tell you," Priss said.
"If you say so Priss." Shaelynn said ending that debate.  ‘I wonder what
she'd do if she knew that I was an Esper?'
Looking up again Shaelynn noticed that Akira had left.  Sighing with
relief, he went back to work on Priss's bike.  It was really bad all the
way through.  The engine looked as if it had a very large crack that ran
from the back to front.  Overall the whole engine needed to be replaced.

"Nice place you got here." Priss said as she was looking around.
"Thanks.  Uh, Priss, you realize that this repair job is going to be
very expensive?" Shaelynn said.
"How much?  And what is wrong with it?" Priss asked.
"Well Priss your engine has a very large crack in it.  Plus you pistons
and valves need to be replaced.  Overall I'd say you need to get the
whole engine replaced.  Now the cost.  It should run you about
seventy-thousand yen."
"Seventy-thousand yen?" Priss exclaimed.  "Why so much?"
"Well Priss I am the only one in town that will even touch your bike
because it is so modified." Shaelynn said.
"Ok fine I'll pay it." Priss grumbled.  "Hey what's under the tarp?"
"Don't touch it.  It's a project I am working on." Shaelynn said.
Deciding to look anyway, Priss gently lifts the edge of the tarp and
sees the mangled remains of an electric blue and silver suit of armor.
Shocked Priss gently puts the tarp down and turns around to leave.
However, she bumps into Shaelynn who was standing behind her.
"I told you not to touch it." Shaelynn said.  "Now promise me you will
not tell anyone, not even your friends?" Shaelynn then asked her.
"Sure I won't tell." Priss said.
"Thanks Priss.  Oh and by the way your ride's almost here." Shaelynn
said cryptically.  As she walked away he partially erased her memory of
what she saw.  He trusted her but only so much.  Knowing what she does
know, Shaelynn had no clue what she would do with that knowledge.
As soon as Priss's ride showed up she left and Shaelynn went back to
working on Priss' bike.
******
Sylia arrived home from her visit with Shaelynn and was very disturbed
with what she saw.
"I had no idea that Shaelynn was an Esper."  Sylia said as she poured
herself some tea.  "He also knows who I am.  This is really bad.  Plus
on top of this development I think that the person in the golden light
was him as well.  I think he know that I am the leader of the
KnightSabers.  How he knows has really got me puzzled.  I know that he
is an Esper.  But there is no way that he could be a Telepathic Esper.
Most Telepathic Espers are driven insane by all of the mental voices
that they hear on a daily basis.  If he was then that would explain how
he knows so much about me.  He really needs to fix that armor and I
think that we could use him on this next job that we have to do.  Well
I'll call the others and see what they think."
A few minutes later all of the Knight Sabers were in Sylia's living
room.  Priss was in a mood most foul.  Linna was gloating about
something and Nene was being so happy it was getting on Priss' nerves.
"Ladies we have very dangerous job ahead of us and I think we need to
ask for help on this one." Sylia said.
"Ask help from who Sylia?" Nene asked.
"The Blue Knight." Sylia said matter of factly.
"Sylia you can't be serious?"  Priss spat back.  "I mean he is a
complete mystery and I don't think we can trust him."
"You trusted him enough to want to go riding with him the other night."
Sylia said coolly.
"Shaelynn is the Blue Knight?" Priss asked in shock.  "There is no way
that a mechanic like Shaelynn could be the Blue Knight."  ‘But that
would explain the armor I thought I saw in his shop.' Priss thought.
"But he is." Sylia said.  "Now ladies I need to know if we should ask
him to help or not?"
"I guess so." Linna said.  "Just as long as you tell him to stay out of
our way."
"Yes we can use all of the help we can get." Nene said.
"Yeah Nene to make up for your short comings." Priss chided.
"Oh you're so mean," Nene said.
"Well that's two for asking him to help." Sylia said.  "Priss what do
you say?"
"I still say that Shaelynn isn't the Blue Knight." Priss said.  "But if
so, then I guess we should ask him for assistance.  Now Sylia what do
you think?"
"Well, I believe that he would be of great assistance to us." Sylia
said.
"If that's what you to do then we'll support your decision." Linna said
in resignation.
"Ok then until tomorrow when we all get together, this meeting is over."
Sylia said.
As the other Knight Sabers leave, Sylia decides to make an anonymous
donation of money and materials to the custom shop.
‘Should I really be doing this?' Sylia asks herself.  ‘If he betrays us
I will be forced to kill him personally.  I really hate to ask for his
help, but if I don't think that any of us will be coming back alive.
This new CyberDroid that Genom released can easily take us out if we are
not careful.'
Deciding her course of action, Sylia pick up her phone and switching it
audio only, she dials the number to the custom shop.
"Shaelynn's custom shop, Shaelynn speaking." said the voice on the other
end of the line.
"I wish to ask for your assistance." Sylia said.
"Assistance for what?" Shaelynn asked suspiciously.
"I need your help for a job tomorrow night." Sylia said bluntly.
"Um but I think you've gotten me mistaken for someone else."  Shaelynn
said nervously.
"No I don't.  I know that you are the ‘Blue Knight' and it would be
appreciated if you would help us out." Sylia said exasperated.  ‘Hell if
knew that he was gonna be that stubborn I would never of asked him in
the first place!'
"Just who am I talking to anyway?" Shaelynn asked as he fiddled with his
terminal in his office trying to trace the call.
"I am the leader of the Knight Sabers." Sylia said.
"Well I would help, except that my suit has been damaged beyond my
working standards." Shaelynn said.  "Now if I had the money and the
materials to repair it I would help."
"So what you are saying is that you will not help?" Sylia asked.
"I did not say any such thing!!" Shaelynn said.  Now if I can let you go
I have a delivery driver to talk to.  However, if I can help where
should I meet you at?"
"How about in front of Raven's garage tomorrow night?" Sylia said.
"Fine I'll see you then." Shaelynn said and then hung up.
After she got off the phone with him she sat back and sighed.
"How heartless, Yet we need his firepower." Sylia said.  "Should I have
really asked him to help?"
******
After Shaelynn got of the phone he went to get the delivery that had
just came.  It was interesting that there was an order that came in for
him today.  He knew that the new engine for Priss' bike would not be in
for another two days.
"Um Mr. Benton I have a large package here for you." The delivery driver
said.
"But my order wasn't supposed to be here until Thursday." Shaelynn said
scratching his head in confusion.  "Well if that is for me then I don't
see why I shouldn't take it.  Who is it from?"
"Don't know." The driver said.  "It's in the back of the truck."
"Thanks." Shaelynn said as he went to the back of the truck to get the
box.  Looking at it Shaelynn decided to grab it and carry it in by
himself.  Grabbing box and applying just enough Telekinetic force to
keep the box balanced, Shaelynn carried the box in an sat it down.
"Ok how much do I owe you for the delivery?" Shaelynn asked after
setting the box down.
"Two-thousand yen" The driver said in shock.
"Here you go and keep the change." Shaelynn said as he handed the driver
three thousand five hundred yen.
"Thanks." The driver said and left.
"Now what in the world could be in this box?" Shaelynn asked himself as
he opened it.   Inside the box Shaelynn found materials to repair his
suit and an envelope.  Opening the envelope he found close to seven
hundred thousand yen and a note.  The note was strange to say the
least.  It read:
To Shaelynn-
If you are reading this note the it is obvious that I know that you are
the ‘Blue Knight'.  I want you to know that I will not even reveal to
anyone that I know this, but I want something from you in return.  I
really need your help.  I also know that you are and Esper, and maybe
the only one that could understand what is going on with me.  I am
willing to give you the Materials to rebuild your suit and the cash to
do  it.  However, don't betray my faith in you.  I hope to hear from you
soon.
From,
 A Friend

"Oh shit, now whoever this is that sent me this stuff also knows that I
am an Esper too.  Great just what I don't need." Shaelynn swore.
"Alright let me think about this rationally.  How many people know where
I work and have seen me use my powers.  Hmm, well there is Sylia and
Priss that both know where I work.  Whoever it was that picked up Priss
also knows.  I think that it was Linna that picked her up.   Linna and
Nene, I think have seen me use my powers at the club, to hold that
bastard that was going to kill Priss back.  Sylia I know has seen me use
my powers. Hell, she caught me using them.  It makes sense that she was
the one that wrote that note.  Well it is almost closing time, so I will
close early so I can fix my suit in private."
Closing the shop down for the night, Shaelynn ‘grabbed' his suit from
the corner of the shop and laid it on his work table.  After making sure
that the garage doors were shut he took the large box over to the table
and began to disassemble his suit to replace the armor and what weapon
systems that were damaged.  Again he was not paying much attention since
he was engrossed in his work.  Deciding to sing while he worked,
Shaelynn started to sing the songs that he heard at the concert the
other night.  He did not even hear the sounds of footsteps that
approached.
"Dear god I didn't think that my suit was this badly damaged." Shaelynn
said as he took a drink of his soda.  "Great that means I will have to
replace the whole musculature in the whole left side. Not to mention I
have to replace the blades in the heel, the left microwave laser, and
the left electro dagger and power plant."
Then it struck him, some one was in here besides him.  Putting the tool
down he ‘reached' for the sword that he kept in his office.
"The shop is closed.  Please come back tomorrow." Shaelynn said.
Not getting a response, Shaelynn turned around very slowly.  When he
looked he saw the same man that he stopped from killing Priss.  He was
also holding a gun.
"I will not allow you to come between us any longer." The man said as he
pulled the trigger.
Shaelynn saw the gun flash then the pain that felt like he had just been
hit with a pool cue in the chest.  Shaelynn then dropped to the ground
motionless.  Then the man that shot him left.  Waiting a while to make
sure that he was gone, Shaelynn just laid there.  As soon as he was sure
that he left, Shaelynn got up slowly.  The realization that someone
actually shot him sank in all to quick and Shaelynn's head swam.  Not
with the agonizing pain of having a two inch piece of lead stuck in him,
but with the shock of just being hurt.
"Ow shit, he didn't have to shoot me with such a large calibur bullet."
Shaelynn said as he got up.  "Good thing that I made this abodex mesh
that I am wearing otherwise I'd be dead."
"That little shit thought that I was dating Priss?" Shaelynn said as he
changed his work suit.  "Wait a minute, that is the same little ass hole
that tried to shoot her in the club just the other night.  Just what in
the hell is going on?  If he shot me then whose to say that he will not
go after Priss next!"
Deciding to lock the main door this time, Shaelynn continues to fix is
suit and sing.  About 10:30 that evening there was a knock on the work
shop door.  Not taking any chances this time he grabbed his sword from
the office and cautiously opened the door.  Outside he saw a man about
eighteen.  The poor kid looked like he had been tortured for ever.
"Tell my sister that she is in danger."  The man said as he collapsed
inside Shaelynn's shop.
"Who are you?" Shaelynn asked.
"Mackie Stingray.  Please, tell her that she is in danger." Mackie said.

"Rest and you can tell her yourself." Shaelynn said.
"No, there is no time.  I am done for.  The man known as The Hacker
knows who my sister is and used me to get to her.  He's an Esper."
Mackie said then finally died.
"Oh shit better call the Police and tell them that I have a dead body
here." Shaelynn said.  "Now how to tell his sister that he is dead?"
When the Police arrived Shaelynn told them half truths about what
happened.  He told them that the deceased came in said something to him
that he just could not remember and then he died.  The detective called
the coroner to take the body away.  After they drew an outline where the
body was, the detective told Shaelynn to take it easy in the shop for
the next few days and stay out of that area.
As soon as the detective left, Shaelynn got on his motorcycle and headed
over to where Sylia lives.  Parking out front, Shaelynn was at a loss as
to how to find her apartment in this rather huge building.  Finding the
entrance to the upstairs, Shaelynn walked up the stairs cautiously
"Man I wish I knew how to tell her what just happened." Shaelynn said as
he walked up the stairs.  "Well I guess I will just give her the news
and the warning that he told me to tell her."
When he got to the top of the stairs he heard voices behind the door.
It was Sylia talking to some man.
"Great, I picked the wrong time to show up to tell her the news."
Shaelynn said in disgust.  "I am outta here!!" Shaelynn then disappeared
in a very loud popping sound.
When he reappeared at his shop he continued to work on his suit well
into the night.   Finally at around 3:30 in the morning, Shaelynn
finished his suit and went home to sleep.
The next morning he remembered that he left his motorcycle at Sylia's
place, so he concentrated and found it then teleported it back to his
house.
******
During Sylia's discussion with Fargo she heard a loud popping sound
outside her door.  Putting her conversation on hold for the minute she
opened her door to see if someone was there.  Finding no one, she went
back to her discussion with Fargo.  When she finished, Sylia was curious
as to what had happened outside her door.  Turning on the camera's
playback feature she saw Shaelynn walking up the stairs.
"So it was Shaelynn that was here?" Sylia said to herself as she watched
the replay.  "Wait a minute he had something to tell me?  Hold on he
disappeared?  Just how in the world did he do that?"
Checking the camera that was in the equipment bay she saw that no one
was there.
"Hmm, now where did he disappear to?" Sylia said as she watched the bit
of footage that showed Shaelynn disappearing from in front of her door.
"Well I see that the mild mannered custom shop owner is a very strong
Esper indeed."
Reaching for the phone Sylia dialed the number that she had for
Shaelynn's shop.
"Yes what can I do for you."  Came a very sleepy voice from the other
end.
"You came by earlier?"  Sylia asked.
"And if I did?"  The voice snapped.
"Shaelynn drop the sleepy attitude, you came by to tell me something."
Sylia  said.
"Fine Sylia," Shaelynn snarled.  "Look, could I come by tomorrow?  I am
so tired."
"If that's what you want to do." Sylia said rather upset.
"Ok I'll see you tomorrow then." Shaelynn said as he hung up the phone.
After Sylia got off the phone, she decided that she could not wait for
tomorrow to find out what it was that he had to tell her.  However,
before she could leave, sleep overcame her.  Sylia drifted off in to a
very deep dreamless sleep.
******
The next morning after Shaelynn woke up and got his motorcycle back from
Sylia's, he went over to her place to tell her the news of Mackie's
death.  While he was riding over there, he was trying to decide how to
tell her the news.  Shaelynn decided to be very empathetic about telling
her, if only to save her feelings.  He realized that Mackie was her only
living family and to be insensitive to her about this could really
jeopardize his working relationship with her.
When he arrived at her building he found the stairs up to her apartment
and walked up them to her door.  Getting to the door he heard the sound
of voices from her apartment.
‘Damn why do I always pick the worst times to show up.' Shaelynn swore
mentally.  ‘Aw screw it I am not leaving until I tell her what happened
to her brother!  I mean it is the least that I can do for her.'
Knocking loudly on the door, Shaelynn waited until the door was
answered.  When the door was opened, he saw Sylia in a black skirt and
white top that did not cover much.[Author's note: the outfit that she
was wearing in Episode six of Bubble Gum Crisis.]  Shaelynn just stood
and stared.
"Um Sylia, if I came at a bad time I will come back later." Shaelynn
said obviously distracted.
"No you're fine." Sylia said.  "Please come in." She then said as she
turned around to let Shaelynn in.
‘Dear god what is that woman doing to me?' Shaelynn thought as he walked
in.  ‘I can't believe she'd wear something like that!'
"Look, honestly if I did come at a bad time I can come back later." he
said as he looked at the other women in the room.
"No you are fine."  Sylia said.  "We were just talking."
‘You know Sylia, to lie to a Telepath is very demeaning.  Especially
when I know what you are really thinking.' Shaelynn thought coldly as he
walked in.
He recognized Priss and Sylia, of course.  The other two he met at the
Hot Legs two nights ago.  Priss was surprised to see Shaelynn, but she
did not show it.  Linna and Nene both blushed a deep crimson when they
looked at him.  They remembered their antics in the club and were
embarrassed.  Shaelynn looked at them and just smiled knowingly.
"Are you sure?" Shaelynn asked.  "Because I can come back some other
time."
"No you are fine." Sylia said.  "If we can go to another room so you can
tell me what it was you wanted last night you can get that off your
mind."
"Am I that transparent?" Shaelynn asked wondering if he was really that
obvious.
"Sylia, listen if he has something to say to you then he can say it in
front of all of us." Priss said.
"Are you paranoid that you don't even trust me to tell her something
personal?" Shaelynn asked with a steely edge to it.  "Or are your
secrets so well hidden that you are afraid that I would find them out?"
"You're right Priss." Sylia said.  "If what you have to say is important
then you can say it in front of everyone here."
"Fine then Sylia."  Shaelynn said.  "But I suggest that you sit down for
what I am about to say."
"Why?  Is what you have to tell me that bad?"  Sylia asked as she was
sitting down.
"Yes, it is." Shaelynn answered.  "I guess that there is no easy way to
say this but to tell you the whole truth.  Sylia the truth of the matter
is that your brother Mackie is dead.  He showed up at my shop and then
died on my floor."
"Was that what you had to tell me last night?" Sylia asked in shock.
The others looked as if they wanted to cry.  Nene especially was very
upset.  "Priss, Linna, Nene, could you leave us for about an hour?"
"Sylia is that wise?" Linna asked very nervously.
"I'll be fine." Sylia said.  "Besides you need to check on the delivery
that is coming in tonight."
"Delivery?" Nene asked quizzically.
"You know the delivery?" Priss said as she dragged Nene out.
"They are good friends." Sylia said.
"Yes, and they are very nosey." Shaelynn said as he went over to the
door.  When he opened it Priss, Linna, and Nene all fell in the room in
a heap.  "See what I mean?"
"Um how did you know that we were still here?" Linna asked.
"It was too quiet in the hall, and besides I didn't live in a house with
older sibling to not know a few tricks." Shaelynn said bemusedly.
"Besides aren't I allowed to keep a few secrets.  I mean you have yours
and I have mine." he then said cryptically.
‘Yep he is definitely an Esper.' Sylia thought.  ‘I can't believe that
Shaelynn is an Esper. I only wish that he would help me with my
nightmares.'
"Sylia did you say something?" Shaelynn asked her as he turned around.
"No I didn't." Sylia said without her usual tone to the response.
"Would you three leave?" Shaelynn asked as he scooted them out the door.

As soon as he heard them walk down the stairs, Shaelynn went back to
Sylia and continued to talk to her.
"Why didn't you. . ." Sylia started but couldn't finish because she
started to cry really hard.
Shaelynn was in shock.  This was the first time in all of the years that
he knew her to ever see her cry.  Something inside him seemed to say
‘hey stupid are you going to sit there and let her cry?' Shaelynn was
afraid to even move because of the fact that he knew that if he was to
touch her he would end up getting another very deep reading on her and
that was what scared him the most. He could just sit there and do
nothing, yet he was too empathic to allow her to cry without doing
something about it.
Deciding to risk it, Shaelynn got up from the couch that he was sitting
on and sat down beside her.  He then took her into a tight embrace and
had no idea of how to comfort her.  Certain emotions were sort of
foreign to him.  Grief was one of them.  He had not had any reason to
feel grief because all of those people that he cared for was still
alive.  He was expecting to either be kneed in the groin or have a nerve
pinched in his arm to get him to let go.  He got neither which just
shocked him.
"Sylia, I . . . er . . .um . . .I am really sorry but I tried to tell
you last night, but you were busy and I didn't want to disturb you."
Shaelynn finally said when his tongue finally worked.
"Who-who did that to him?" Sylia asked through the tears.
"Well some one called The Hacker." Shaelynn said.  "Oh yeah Mackie's
last words were ‘Tell my sister that she is in danger.  The man known as
The Hacker knows who my sister is and used me to get to her.  He's an
Esper.' I honestly don't what had happened to him, but I won't let what
happened to him happen to you."
"How can you protect me?  You aren't anything special." Sylia said as
she looked at Shaelynn.
"Maybe I am more than I appear." Shaelynn said with one of his lopsided
smiles.
"Um could you please let me go."  Sylia said politely.
"Um sure." Shaelynn said, then let go of her as if he had just been
shocked by a live electric wire.  "I am really sorry about that.  I had
no right to do that and I am very sorry."
"It's alright." Sylia said as she laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Um Sylia, at the risk of being rude, but could you please not touch
me." Shaelynn said with a look of terror in his eyes.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" Sylia asked as she removed her hand
from his shoulder.
"I can't say right now." Shaelynn said.  "But I will tell you
eventually."
"Ok If that's what you want."  Sylia said obviously hurt.  ‘What is he
hiding from me?  If it is a bout him being and Esper I already know
that, but I'll let him tell me himself.  Maybe he is a Telepathic Esper
after all.  He will have to trust me in time.'
"Well I really need to get home."  Shaelynn said as he got up.  "Once
again you have my condolences." Getting no response from her he let
himself out and left.
Alone, Sylia began to cry until she was exhausted and fell into a sleep.

******
Priss, Linna, and Nene were all together in the Piss coffee shop
talking. They had asked for a table in the back away from everyone.
Fortunately, there were hardly any customers.
"Man I don't know who that Shaelynn thinks he is barging in like that."
Nene said half fuming and half in tears.
"Nene, calm down." Priss said.  "I know Shaelynn and I don't think he is
going to try anything with Sylia at all."
"That's true." Linna said in agreement.  "But our big problem is this
job that we have to do tonight.  Sylia wants to have the ‘Blue Knight'
help and to be quite honest I don't trust him to not betray us to
Genom."
"Still even if we do trust him how do we know that once we finish the
job that he won't attack us afterwards?" Nene asked.
"If that happens then Sylia will kill him." Priss said very matter of
factly.  ‘Besides he is kinda cute' Priss thought.
"Let's hope that it doesn't come to that though." Linna said.  "I just
can't get over the fact that Mackie's dead."
"I know." Nene said as she was just about to cry.
"Sylia must be in shock." Linna said as she placed an arm around Nene.
"He was her only family that was alive.  Still I can't help but wonder
if Shaelynn wasn't the one that killed him."
"Shaelynn is harmless." Priss said.  "He wouldn't hurt anyone!!"
"Priss, why are you defending him?" Linna asked.  "Is it because you
like him?"
"No it is not that." Priss yelled.  "It's just that regardless even if
he is this ‘Blue Knight' person he deserves our respect.  I mean even I
am not insane enough to try to tackle six 55-C boomers by myself."
"Still the way you are defending him it sounds like that you are in love
with him." Linna said.
"Hmf, look I just don't like the way you are saying that he could be a
traitor." Priss snarled back.  "But still, I do admit one thing whoever
he is dating has a good catch in him."
"How so?" Nene asked.
"Well, he has a stable income, plus he has his looks, and well he is
compassionate." Priss said as she thought about him.  "Still I wonder
who he is seeing?"
Nene and Linna just stared at Priss with their jaws hanging wide open.
They couldn't believe what they just heard from Priss.  It sounded as if
she had fallen in love with him.  Priss was not known to share her
feelings, but in this instance as she talked about Shaelynn, she looked
as if she was in love.
"What?" Priss asked as she looked at her two friends.
"So you do like him after all?" Nene said after regaining her composure.

"No Nene I am just saying that who ever latched hold of him is one lucky
woman." Priss said with a sniff. "Besides, he seems to be more of
Sylia's type anyway. I saw the smile he gave you two. You were acting
crazy at the club the night before last weren't you?"
"Nene was drunk." Linna said.
"I was not drunk!" Nene shouted.
"Anyway about this job that we are doing." Priss started. "I don't
really think that one extra person can make the difference against the
odds that we will be facing."
"We have got to try no matter what the odds!" Nene said.  "It is after
all just one boomer."
"Just one boomer that is capable of holding off an entire squad of AD
Police." Linna snapped back.  "Plus I don't like the fact that it is
just one boomer.  Something about it isn't right."
"Like that's hard." Priss commented.  "Like I said what is one person
going to do that will even the odds with that boomer?  What doesn't seem
right about it just being one boomer?  I mean it took all of us to
destroy Mason's Super Boomer back in ‘32.  So what is up Linna?"
"I don't know how to explain it but I just have this feeling that we
aren't coming back from this job alive.  Besides from what Sylia said
Shaelynn's suit packs some pretty impressive fire power." Linna said.  I
just hope that we don't have to take him down as well."
"Look, Sylia said he can be trusted and if she says so then we should
trust him until proven otherwise." Priss said.  "Now we should be
getting back to Sylia's place the hour or so is up and I want to talk to
her some more about this job."
Finishing their coffee, the three women leave and head back to Sylia's
place.
******
Shaelynn was at a loss at what to do now.  He had promised to help the
Knight Sabers if he got his suit repaired.  He finished his suit that
morning at 3:30 am.
"Well, I did promise to help them and I always keep my promises."
Shaelynn said in resignation.
Looking at the clock in his shop, he saw that it was time to meet them
where they agreed upon.  Locking the front doors to his shop, Shaelynn
unzipped his Navy blue Coveralls and stepped out of them. Folding them
up neatly and setting them on the work table, Shaelynn puled of the
Abodex mesh that he wore under his clothes.
He was left in a skin tight navy-blue and black body suit.  Reaching
down to the base of his neck, Shaelynn pulled the last piece of it up
his neck.  Keying the boarding sequence on his suit Shaelynn walked over
to it and stepped into it. Shaelynn never got over how fast and how
tight this auto fittings were.  The fitting started from his legs and
worked up. After about two minutes, his suit was completely attached to
him and the body suit.
"Man I will never get used to this tight fitting suit, but hell I did
say I would help!" Shaelynn said as he grabbed the helmet of his suit.
"I must be stupid to put this thing on again."
Putting the helmet on, Shaelynn opened the front door of the shop.  As
he stepped out of the door Shaelynn got another of his feelings again.
This time it was a feeling of dread.  Stopping outside of the shop,
Shaelynn tried to focus on that feeling.  What he got was a very hazy
picture of someone in danger in their own home.  It ended in that
person's death.  Shaking it off Shaelynn needed to get going.  Looking
around to see if anyone was watching. Since there was no one was
watching, he ignited the flight jets in the lower back of his suit and
streaked off through the night sky. It was always a rush when Shaelynn
took flight in his suit.  He enjoyed this as much as when he would tear
through the streets of Tokyo.  Finding the location of Raven's Garage,
Shaelynn headed off in that direction.
******
The Knight Sabers were all waiting for the final member of their team to
show up.  The one in blue was not happy to say the least bit. Their
leader was also not happy either.
"Sylia, I don't thing that he is coming." Priss said very upsetly.
"Give him time." Sylia said.  "He will be here."
"Let's hope so for all of our sakes." Linna said with a hiss.
As Sylia was about to say something in response, Linna saw a figure in
electric blue and silver armor landed behind Sylia and took off his
helmet.
"Uh-uh Sylia you might want to look behind you?" Linna said over their
suit's internal communications system.
Slowly turning around, Sylia looked at the figure that stood there.  Not
even hinting that she knew the truth she just looked at him.
"Oh I get it you decided to use the "Blue Knight's armor to trick us."
Sylia said coldly.
"Let's get inside and I will tell you why I did what I did." Shaelynn
said.  ‘I am going to have to erase their memories after this job of who
I am.  I can't have any of them knowing who I really am.'
"Ok we will." Sylia said as she lead everyone inside Raven's Garage.
None of the others took off their helmets due to the fact that they did
not trust him.
"Alright, First:  I will admit to you all that I am the "Blue Knight"
Secondly:  the only reason that I even told you this is because I trust
you enough.  Just don't make me regret trusting you.  Third: Just what
in the hell do you need me to do again?" Shaelynn said at length.
"Well to answer you question.  We need you and your special talents to
help us deal with a particularly nasty Boomer that Genom has let loose
on the city." Sylia said.
"That's it?" Shaelynn asked skeptically.  "All you want me to do is help
you take down a single boomer?"
"Put you helmet back on so I can talk to you privately." Sylia said.
Putting it back on, Shaelynn waited.
"This boomer has enough power to destroy one-third of Tokyo.  Do you
want the rest of your family to die as well?"
"How do you know about my family?"
"The same way that I know that you were the ‘Blue Knight'."
‘Looks like I will have to erase her memory of that.  But I don't want
to do that.  Besides Sylia is very cute and I wouldn't want to do
something like that if it would hurt her.'
"I will help on this job only because I don't want to see my family
killed."
"Thank you for the help."
Just as they were about to leave a small black pig wearing a
tiger-striped bandana wonders into the garage.  The little pig just
stops and looks around wide-eyed.
Reaching down, Shaelynn picks up the pig by the bandanna and looks at
it.
"Man I wonder who let their pet pig lose to roam the streets." Shaelynn
said as he carried the pig outside.
Afterwards the pig just wandered off.  Shaelynn and the rest of the
KnightSaber then boarded the Knightwing and headed off to find the
rampaging boomer.
******
>From a back room in an old abandoned lab a man is listening to a tape of
an interrogation.
". . . So then what you are saying is that your sister is the Leader of
the KnightSabers?"
"Yes, I have said that five times already."
"There is no need to back talk me like that."
"Arch.!!  Enough with the pain already.  What else do you want from me?"

"All in good time.  All in good time" <click>
"Hmf, and now my little stool pigeon is dead.  Pity that he had to tell
that shop owner who I am." The man said.  "Well it looks like he will
have to die as well."
Getting up from the table he walks over to the terminal and dials a
number.  A shadowy figure is on the other end.
"Well?" The man on the phone said.
"Mr Dumas, We seemed to have developed a problem.  There is this shop
owner who just might know of our plans to kill off the KnightSabers."
The other man said.
"Well you are known as The Hacker, so you do something about it on your
end.  Or do you want us to come and deal with him ourselves?  Because,
if we do have to come and kill him then you die as well."
"I will try, Mr. Dumas.  I will try." The Hacker said nervously as he
hung up the phone.
Looking around he saw that his cat was eager to get out.  The cat was
huge and tan with brown spots and orange eyes.
"What's wrong Jingoro?  You need out to go to the bathroom?" The Hacker
said as he walked over to his cat.
"Meow!!!!" Jingoro said.
"Ok I'll let you out." The Hacker said.
Letting the cat out for the night, The Hacker went to plot his move to
get rid of the shop owner.  He decided to use the boomer that was
currently on a rampage through downtown Tokyo.  The Boomer was advanced
enough to allow him to use his special talents to take it over.
******
En route to the site where the boomer was last spotted, the one in the
pink suit decides to start up a conversation with Shaelynn.
"So where did you get the suit?" The pink Saber asked.
"Not to sound rude, but where I got my suit is my business!!" Shaelynn
said with a snort.
"Hey we were just trying to be friendly." the green Saber said.
"Look That is none of your business." Shaelynn said.
‘Can I trust them?  I guess I have no other choice.  If they even betray
me I know where they live and can find them.'
"Alright I will tell you how I got my suit, but I must have all of you
swear on your honor that you will not tell anyone how I got it."
Shaelynn said.
"We swear."  came the response from the other three.
"What about you Saber Prime?" Shaelynn asked Sylia.  "Do you swear on
your honor to not tell anyone?"
"Yes I swear." Sylia said.
"Thank you.  Now all of you listen up.  I received a package in the mail
on my 18th birthday.  That package was a mysterious data unit that had
the technical specs of my suit on it." Shaelynn said.  "Why that was
sent to me or who it was from has always remained a mystery to me."
"So you have been the Blue Knight since your eighteenth birthday?" The
one in pink asked.
"No I wasn't." Shaelynn said.  "Hey Saber Prime any comments from you?"
Shaelynn then asked.
"No I have none." Sylia said.  ‘There was a second Data unit?  Why did
my Father send it to him of all people.  Well at least it is now in good
hands.  But still the question remains why him?'
"Alright we are about ready to land, so here is how we will split up."
Sylia said.  "Saber Blue and Green you will go with the Blue Knight.
Saber Pink and I will be the other team."
"Sure thing Saber Prime." The Green Saber said.
As soon as Sylia set the Knight Wing down the Knight Sabers and Shaelynn
split up to tackle the Boomer.
******
The AD Police units were pinned down under heavy fire from just the one
boomer.  Leon was tempted to grab a K-12 battle suit and try to tackle
it himself.
"Damn this boomer is causing such a mess!" Leon swore.  "Where the hell
are the armored troops?"
"Calm down Leon." his partner Dailey Wong said.  "The new chief will not
let us use the armored troops."
"I know, I just wish the Knight Sabers would show up and deal with this
thing."
"Well Leon, looks like you might just get your wish." Dailey said as he
pointed to the roof top.
"It is about time now that all five . . . wait a minute there are five
now?" Leon said in shock as he looked up at the roof top.  What he saw
was five people in armor.  Four he recognized, but the new one was very
unfamiliar to him.  The armor was Electric Blue and Silver.  The wearer
was obviously male, because the suit was very flat in the front.  This
suit didn't wait for the others.  It just leapt off the roof and started
to attack the boomer head on.
"Well that one must be a rookie." Leon said with a chuckle.  "Their
leader is more than likely going to scold him for jumping the gun like
that."
"Kinda like you eh Leon?" Dailey said.
"Er." Leon said.  "Yet I always thought that the KnightSabers were a
female only group?"
"Hold on Leon, I know where I have seen that suit before."  Dailey said.

"You have?  Where?" Leon asked as he put on his sunglasses.
"It was about a month ago when Genom supposedly lost a shipment of 55-C
boomers.  That suit managed to destroy five of the six that were going
berserk near the COM-TECH building.  I wonder if that suit has anything
to do with the Security force that is supposed to be employed by that
company?" Dailey said at length.
"Right.  So this suit was around a month ago?" Leon asked with a snort.
"Yeah the section chief has dubbed him ‘The Blue Knight' and well the
public seems to hail him as a hero." Dailey said.  "He first showed up
when you were on exchange with a police officer from the Kobe area.
That poor guy wanted to shoot him the first time the ‘Knight' was out."
"Great, well at least nothing bad happened." Leon said.  "If there was
the public would have one more reason to hate the AD Police."
"Good point." Dailey said.
******
Sylia wanted to kill Shaelynn right then.  He decided to jump the gun
and tackle the boomer head on.  None of the others had even dared to try
something like that before.  She could possibly see Priss do something
like that, but she has never done that, or for that matter tried.
Apparently the attack on that boomer provided the distraction that was
needed to allow the people to get away.   His attack planted his heel
blades in the shoulders of the boomer.  Sylia was half convinced that
Shaelynn would more of a hindrance than a help.  However, she could not
help but admire the way that Shaelynn would cover both Priss and Linna's
back while they made an attack on the boomer.  As she looked over to see
if Nene was doing alright, she heard a strangled scream coming from
Linna.  Turning around, she saw that Linna was grabbed in a vice grip
bye the boomer and was slowly being electrocuted.  Deciding that Nene
was holding her own, Sylia needed to get to Linna and fast.  She was in
a bad spot but she saw that Priss was closer.
"Priss, try to help her." Sylia said on their communications frequency.
"Sylia, I am trying but I can't get to her.  That boomer just decided to
split into three copies of himself." Priss said.
"Damn I didn't know that the boomer could do that." Sylia said.  "Well I
will try to save her myself."
As Sylia moved to try to save Linna, she saw a blur of movement and then
Linna was no longer being crushed.  Looking to see who did that, she saw
that it was Shaelynn that had rescued her.  It appeared that Linna was
not moving, but she was alive barely.
"Linna are you ok?" Sylia asked over the radio to her.
"Uh . . ." was all the response that she got.
"Damn Boomer."  Shaelynn bellowed.  "I will make you pay for hurting my
friend."
The laser lenses on his shoulders popped up and started to glow.
Deciding to cause less damage, Shaelynn took to the air and floated over
them.  When the lenses were at full charge, Shaelynn let lose two beams
of energy at the three boomers.  When they impacted on them it looked as
if it did absolutely nothing to them.
Landing next to Sylia, Shaelynn was getting really angry.
"What the hell does it take to kill these bastards?" Shaelynn growled.
"I have no clue on that." Sylia said.  "Saber Pink, Get Saber Green back
to the Knightwing and fast.  Stay with her and make sure that she won't
get any worse."
Glancing at Linna, Shaelynn was hit with a feeling that she would live
and was not in any danger.
"Saber Prime, Saber Green will be alright and I think we will need Saber
Pink's help as well." Shaelynn said cryptically.
"Ok, if you think she will be fine." Sylia said.
"Saber Blue, let's see if we can injure these bastards!" Shaelynn said
to Priss.
"You are talking my language, Knight." Priss said and took off for one
of the boomers.
"Saber Prime can you cover us while we try to damage one?" Shaelynn
asked.
"I'll do better than that, I am helping you two." Sylia said and took to
the air.
"That is understood." Shaelynn said as he charged the boomer that Priss
was currently trying to damage.
In mid-run Shaelynn deployed his two electro-daggers and waited until he
was in range of it to hit.  As soon as he got to within one hundred feet
of it, Shaelynn threw his daggers at it and one impacted in the boomer's
face and the other in the mid torso.  Praying that this would work,
Shaelynn, redirected the power from his microwave lasers into the
generators that provided that power for the daggers.  The electric
current that was pumped into the boomer was enough to fry a 55-C boomer
easily but this one seemed to not be as affected by it as much.
‘Shit I knew I should have added my contact point bombs instead of the
Daggers for this mission.' Shaelynn swore mentally.
Retracting his daggers, Shaelynn rerouted the power back to their normal
levels and decided to try a different tactic.  As he looked to see how
Priss and Sylia were doing, he saw that Sylia was having a hard time
with one of the split off boomers.
"Saber Blue, Let's double team him." Shaelynn said over the radio to
Priss.
"I was just going to suggest the same thing as well." Priss said with a
bit of surprise in her voice.
About this time Nene had returned from the Knightwing with four humanoid
robots in tow.
"Sylia I figured that we might be needing these so I brought them." Nene
said over the internal radio.
"I see good thinking but we only need three.  Unless the Blue Knight is
a quick learner on how to use a MotorSlave." Sylia said as she linked up
with her MotorSlave.
Priss turned around and saw that Nene had brought in the heavy
artillery.  She immediately ran for her MotorSlave and did not realize
that there was a Boomer that was wanting to make sure that she never saw
tomorrow.  Shaelynn saw that Priss was about to get shot in the back and
opened up with the twin blade cannons that were a main source of his
arsenal.  It was enough to allow Priss to get to her MotorSlave and link
up with it.
"Hey Knight if you want some extra protection and a better shot at
destroying one then use the other MotorSlave." Priss said to Shaelynn.
"I have never used one before so it would be more of a hindrance to me."
Shaelynn said.  "But I will try to use it."
As soon as Shaelynn linked up with the remaining MotorSlave, the tide of
the battle changed in the favor of the KnightSabers and Shaelynn.  Two
of the three Boomers were totally destroyed.  The third was almost
destroyed.  Shaelynn separated from his MotorSlave to finish it off
personally when the boomer shot him right in the center torso.  Shaelynn
went down in a crumpled heap.  Sylia, in an act that was totally unlike
what she would ever do, completely destroyed the boomer and then emptied
the batteries in her palm blasters.  Priss was in shock to see this
display.  As soon as the batteries were emptied, Sylia walked over to
where Shaelynn lay and checked for any signs of life.
Shaelynn just laid there and was in shock that he let his emotions get
the better of him.  Looking over at Sylia he could tell that she was
concerned about him. Slowly getting up, Shaelynn was not very happy.
"Are you alright?" Priss and Sylia asked.
"Well I am alive if that counts for much." Shaelynn said as he walked
around.
"Let's vacate now." Sylia said as they all went back to the Knightwing.
 When they got back to where they were to drop off Shaelynn, Sylia
detained him for a few minutes.
"Just what in the hell did you think that you were doing?" Sylia yelled
at Shaelynn.  "You could have got yourself killed with that suicide
attack.  Plus everyone else as well.  I should have you executed for
that."
"Saber Prime I am not a part of your group and have no intentions of
joining either." Shaelynn growled.  "Now if you want to try to enforce
that execution, you are more than welcome to try.  I suggest that you
take care of your injured member."
"What was that supposed to be a threat?" Priss asked.
"No, a promise.  If I wasn't there to help Saber Green would be dead now
and you ladies would be out one member and possibly the rest of you
would be dead right now.  Now correct me if I am wrong but that smelled
like a set up if I ever saw one." Shaelynn said.
"What do you mean a set up" Sylia asked.
"Well if you noticed that the Boomer part that grabbed Saber Green was
immune to my Electro Daggers.  Now if I am not mistaken is that Saber
Green's primary weapon?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well yeah in addition to her mono ribbons." Sylia said.  "What are you
getting at?"
"Simply put this.  That Boomer was specifically designed to counter all
of your attacks and in addition to that, kill all of you.  Apparently
they never expected me to help out on this one." Shaelynn said at
length.
"Oh and Saber Blue.  Be careful when you go home from here.  There are
forces that would like to see you dead.  I would suggest you be careful"
Shaelynn then said cryptically then left.
"I really don't like his attitude Sylia." Nene said as she was removing
her helmet.  "Do you really think that he could have taken all of us?"
"With that suit of his I don't doubt it." Sylia said as she was taking
her suit off.  "We need to tend to Linna and she how she is doing."
While they were tending to Linna, Sylia began to ponder over what the
‘Blue Knight' had said.  It was obvious that he knew what was up and she
did not.  It really bothered her that there was someone that knew more
than she did about this job that they finished.
It was easy to get Linna out of her suit.  Sylia had programmed in a
special addition that if by any chance the wearer was unable to get out
on their own it would immediately blow off of them.  In Linna's case it
just fell off of her when Sylia removed Linna's helmet.  Physically
checking Linna over for any wounds, Sylia found that Linna had several
busted ribs and some cracked ribs as well.
"Well it could have been worse." Sylia said as she finally got out of
her suit.
"How much worse?" Priss asked.
"I think what the Blue Knight said was true.  We would all be dead right
now." Sylia said with a sigh.  "Funny thing though, I tend to agree with
him in that regards.  We would have been killed and then who would keep
an eye on Genom?"
******
As soon as Shaelynn got in the door of his workshop he was livid.
"What in the hell was I thinking?" Shaelynn said aloud as he was taking
off the helmet to his suit.  "That was the most idiotic thing that I
have ever done in my entire life.  I could have killed them and nearly
did.  If I didn't have my code of honor I would have killed each and
everyone of them right where they stood."
As Shaelynn got his suit off he looked around and saw that his shop had
been ransacked.  Looking very concerned Shaelynn went to see if his
swords were stolen.  Luckily they were not.  Sighing with relief,
Shaelynn placed his suit in the recharging unit and put his clothes back
on.
"Well at least they didn't find anything of value." Shaelynn said.
"Still I better take those swords home with me tonight."
Unlatching them from the wall, Shaelynn placed the swords in a special
bag and drove off for home.  When he got home he noticed that his
answering machine had a couple of messages on it.
"Great." Shaelynn said with a resigned sigh.  "Who is it this time?"
Pressing the button to rewind and play the messages Shaelynn went to the
kitchen to get himself a soda.  Coming back in the room, Shaelynn heard
a very strange message.
"Listen to me and listen good Mr. Benton my name is unimportant, but
what I have to say is.  I can have someone that you hold most dear
killed if you do not do exactly what I say.  I know that you talked to
someone last night and he told you some things.  I am ordering you to
not say anything to anyone about it."
"What?" Shaelynn said in disgust.  "This guy is such a trip.  Yet this
sounds like the Hacker that Mackie was talking about.  If he is an Esper
like me then surely he knows that Mackie talked to me.  Anyway next
message!"
"Shaelynn this is your sister Jessica.  I think that our brother is in
some kind of danger.  He said that he found out something about a girl
that he likes and is now a target.  This girl sings at the club that you
go to every night after you get off work.  Please as a favor for me
please help him!"
"Tommy is in trouble?" Shaelynn said as he took a sip of his soda.  "He
likes Priss of all people?  Wow that is a first.  I better call Tommy at
home and talk to him in person."
Picking up the phone, Shaelynn called his brother's place.  Fortunately
Tommy was home.
"Yeah who is it?" Tommy answered sleepily.
"Tommy this is your brother." Shaelynn said.
"Bro you realize that it is 3:30 in the morning?" Tommy said.
"Well be that as it may I am coming over.  Jessica said that you are in
trouble and I want to know why and what." Shaelynn said as he gave Tommy
a mental nudge.
"Ok I am awake now." Tommy grumbled.  "I'll see you in a few minutes."
Hanging up the phone, Shaelynn went back out to his motorcycle and drove
off to his brother's house.  Something nagged at him why in the world
would Tommy get himself into.  There was no way that he would be able to
get out of trouble if he had angered Genom.  Tearing down the road
through traffic Shaelynn's mind raced as fast as he did through
traffic.  This time he was not paying attention and as soon as he looked
up he saw that there was a stopped car in his lane.  Deciding to risk
it, Shaelynn concentrated and teleported himself and the motorcycle on
the other side of the parked car.  Finally getting to Tommy's place,
Shaelynn parked his motorcycle and started to walk up to the house.
Getting half way up to the house, Shaelynn heard a sound that he thought
was and owl
"Bu, Buu!!"
"What in the hell?" Shaelynn asked as he walked over to the tree.  When
he got to the base of the tree, Shaelynn saw not an owl but a small
white thing with rabbit like ears, red eyes and a red Crystal on its
forehead.  Shaking his head Shaelynn walked into the house.  Tommy met
him half way.
"Ah Bro I am so glad that you are here." Tommy said.
"Tommy would you mind telling me what in the hell is going on?" Shaelynn
asked.
"How about if I tell you that when we get inside."
"Sure thing."
As soon as they got inside Shaelynn was very upset.
"Tommy now tell me what in the heck is going on?  Jessica said that you
are in some kind of trouble?"
"Bro, there is this girl that I like and well, I found out some things
about her." Tommy said.
"Who is the girl?" Shaelynn said as he was taking a drink of his soda.
"Her name is Priss." Tommy said matter of factly.
"Priss?" Shaelynn said as he choked on the drink.  "What in the hell did
you find out about her that has gotten Jessica so upset?  And for that
matter where did you find it?"
"Well I found out that at one time Priss had a boyfriend, but he died
under mysterious circumstances.  AD Police said it was a suicide.  I
went digging and found out that Genom was the one that killed him."
"Tommy you are an idiot." Shaelynn fumed.  "So what in the hell do you
plan on doing with that information?  If you think for one minute that
you will not be hunted down by Genom then you are sorely mistaken.
Tommy I won't be able to bail you out of this one if the come hunting
for you."
"Bro, so what you are saying is that you are abandoning me to my own
fate?" Tommy said nearly getting angry.
"No Tommy I am not." Shaelynn said.  "You have just got to realize that
since you went digging into Genom's computer files they will be coming
after you.  But if they connect you to me then I am screwed as well."
"How would they connect you to me?" Tommy asked.
"Simply the fact that we are related.  Now think!  They killed Mom and
Dad for some reason I don't yet know why.  Your digging might just draw
attention to yourself."
"I had help though and she did the digging for me." Tommy said beaming.
"Who helped you?" Shaelynn asked.
"Oh all I got was a name.  She said her name was Ami Mizuno." Tommy
said.
"What ever but I should also warn you that there is this sociopath that
wants to kill Priss.  The reason that I know that was he shot me
yesterday."
"He did?"
"Tommy I will talk to her for you if you want me to but just as a
precaution I don't think that she will return your feelings.  She is
involved in a group that discourages any relationships what so ever."
"Thanks Bro and I will take your advice."
"I am glad of that Tommy.  Oh and by the way Priss has a concert today."

"Cool I will meet you there then."
After finishing their discussion Shaelynn rode home and went to bed.
That night Shaelynn had a fitful night.  He was having a very disturbing
dream.  In this dream he found himself being assaulted by a being of
pure dark energy.  Summoning up all of his courage, Shaelynn was able to
beat back the dark energy and surrounded himself with light.  Then he
hears the sound of a woman screaming in fright.  Walking through the
darkness he sees a woman that has nearly gone hysterical from fright and
terror.  Coming closer he sees that she is crying.  Laying a hand on her
shoulder he spoke to her.
"What has gotten you so frightened?" Shaelynn asked.
"I am trapped and I can not get out." The woman said.  "I was trapped in
here by my reflection."
"We will find a way out together." Shaelynn said with a lopsided smile.
He then took her into his arms and held her close filling her with a
sense of peace.  "Know that I will always be here for you.  But for now
you must face the dark on your own.  In time a person will come to help
you face it together.  Don't shut him out.  He will be more of a help
than you realize."  Then Shaelynn disappeared.
The next morning, Shaelynn woke up with a headache and it felt like he
had just drank till he got too drunk.  Staggering into the bathroom,
Shaelynn grabbed the bottle of Excedrin and took two for his headache.
He then showered and went to his shop to finish what he had been working
on for the past few days.  Arriving at his shop, Shaelynn went to work
on the project that Sylia had him work on.  Looking it over, Shaelynn
decided that he was almost finished with this project.  All she wanted
was the designs for it and not the actual thing itself.  Finishing the
designs in a few hours, Shaelynn sat down and went back to work on
Priss' motorcycle.  His train of thought was interrupted when three very
large and burly men came into the shop.  He could tell by just the way
that they walked that they were boomers.
"Can I help you?" Shaelynn asked the men.
"We are looking for this person.  Have you seen him?" The men said as
they showed him a picture.  Not betraying a single emotion Shaelynn just
shook his head.
"Nope I haven't seen him nor do I know him.  Why do people from Genom
want a innocent kid like him?" Shaelynn asked with a sniff.
"Let's just say that it is none of you business." The leader of the
group said as they left.  Finally after they all left the delivery
driver showed up with a package for Shaelynn.  Paying for the delivery,
Shaelynn went back inside and completed the work on Priss' bike.  Going
to his office, Shaelynn made two phone calls.  One of them was to Priss
to tell her that she could pick up her bike.  When he dialed the number
he got a recording that said the number had been disconnected.  Thinking
that Priss didn't pay her phone bill, Shaelynn then called Sylia and
told her that her project was finished.
"You finished it early?" Sylia said.
"Yeah since you didn't say to build it I just drew up the plans for it.
I figured that you would build it at your own convenience." Shaelynn
said with a resigned sigh.
"Tell you what how about I come pick it up on Saturday like I had
planned to do in the first place?" Sylia asked.
"Ok I can hold on to it until then."
After hanging up the phone Shaelynn finished the day and then went home
to clean up and to get ready for his usual hang out with his brother at
the Hot Legs club.  It disturbed him that Priss did not answer her
phone, especially if she would be waiting to hear about her bike.  Yet
what disturbed him even more was the dream that he had last night.
Something about it screamed that it was planted.  His nightmares ended
after he turned eighteen.  That dream was not in his mind but in that of
someone else.  Shaelynn decided to not worry about it right now.
*******
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the man known only as The Hacker
was in the middle of a very important phone call.  The person on the
other end was very displeased.
"I thought you said that you would take care of him?" The man said.
"Mr Dumas, I assure you I had no idea that his suit was that powerful."
The Hacker said.  "I was under the assumption that he would be with them
in normal street clothes.  I didn't know that he owned a hard suit . .
."
"Save you pathetic excuses." Dumas said.  "We are coming to Tokyo in
three days.  If you don't have him killed in that time then we will kill
him and you as well." Then the line was silent.
"What am I going to do?" The Hacker asked himself as he paced through
his workshop.  "I must find a way to kill him so I don't die myself."
As he walked through his shop, The Hacker stopped and pondered an option
that he had never thought of.  He decided to use his Esper abilities to
attack his intended target that way.
Settling down on a couch, he stretched his mind out to find his target.
As soon as he found it, The Hacker started to attack his mind.  However,
the attack failed because he was met with some heavy resistance.  Plus
to make matters worse his target had strong mental shielding as well.
Getting up from the couch, The Hacker rubbed his temples and tried to
stop the pounding in his head.
"I had no idea that he was an Esper as well.  I couldn't even get past
his mental shields.  If I had known that then I wouldn't have even tried
this approach." The Hacker said in resignation.  "Oh well.  At least I
have another way to kill him if need be."
******
At home while Shaelynn was getting ready he got the starting of a
headache.  Trying to block out the pain he found that the headache was
not a headache after all but an attempt to get past his mental shields.
Concentrating, Shaelynn managed to shove the person out of his mind.
"So that was this Hacker person?" Shaelynn asked himself as he finished
getting dressed.  "Oh well that little twit wasn't able to get past my
shields."
Walking outside Shaelynn got on his motorcycle and tore off into town.
As usual Shaelynn was riding dangerously fast through traffic.  As he
darted in and out of traffic this night, he was going over in his mind
how in the world he was going to tell Priss that his brother really
liked her and was interested in having a relationship.  Putting that
train of thought in the back of his mind right now, Shaelynn
concentrated on getting to the club before the show started.  He knew
that Priss started her shows at around eight o'clock or rather close to
it.  Thing was he had left his house at seven thirty and was a good
forty-five minutes from the club.
"Shit I am going to be late and Tommy will be very ticked that I am
running late." Shaelynn swore as he gunned the engine on his
motorcycle.  Luckily it was his older brother Jeff that had given him
riding lessons when he was fifteen or Shaelynn would have never had the
courage to ride this fast.  This time as he zipped through the traffic
he noticed that he was at nearly 100 kph over the posted limit.
However, it was funny that there was not a single highway patrol officer
out at all.  Shrugging he continued on to the club.
When he got there he noticed that the time was 8:05 PM.  Walking inside,
Shaelynn had been expecting to hear Priss in full swing and singing up a
storm.  However, when he got inside he noticed that it was not that way
at all.  What he saw was the usual crowd that was gathered on the floor
waiting for the show to start.  Scanning the crowd, Shaelynn saw, in his
usual spot, Priss's older brother Akira.  He also spotted Tommy in his
usual spot as well.  Dropping a mental nudge in his direction, Tommy
made his way through the crowd and back to where his brother was.
"Hey bro what's up?" Tommy asked.
"Tommy, I just don't know.  This is unlike Priss.  She is usually on
time when she starts a show." Shaelynn said between slurps of soda.
"Plus three huge guys from Genom came around asking about you.  I warned
you about that."
"Surely you are being a bit paranoid don't ya think?" Tommy asked.
"I don't know.  Maybe or maybe not." Shaelynn said with a wave of his
fork.
"Hey have either of you seen Priss?" a man asked.  "She was supposed to
have been here at 7:30 for a sound check."
"Um who are you if I might ask?" Shaelynn asked very cautiously.
"I am the club owner." The man said again.  "I would've expected this of
her several months ago but recently she has always been on time and very
agreeable for some reason."
"Did you try calling her place to see if she had left yet?" Tommy asked.

"Yeah I did and well she must have either forgot to pay the bill or her
phone is off the hook." The owner said.
"You know I had to call her this afternoon to tell her that her
motorcycle was finished and I got the same message." Shaelynn said.  "I
wonder what is going on with her?"
"Did I hear you say something about Priss?" Said another voice.
Turning around he saw the same red haired woman that he had met just a
couple of nights ago.
"Well if isn't Miss Nene." Shaelynn said with a slight smirk.
"Yeah and how did you know my name?" Nene asked.
"I heard your friend say your name and well let's just say I remember
every thing that I hear and see." Shaelynn said.  "Well as for Priss she
is now forty-five minutes late and the owner is very much worried."
"I see.  Did anyone call her?" Nene asked.
"I did and so did the owner." Shaelynn said.  "To be quite honest with
you I am half tempted to go over to her place and see if anything is
wrong."
"I'll go with you." Tommy said.
"Tommy, I would rather you stay here.  If a certain someone finds out
about this we are all in deep shit." Shaelynn said.  "Besides if both of
us goes and something is wrong we both could be framed for it.  I need
you here so if anyone asks if they have seen me you can tell them the
truth."
"Um do you know where she lives?" Nene asked.
"Rats, I knew that was something I forgot." Shaelynn said.  "Hey Nene do
you know where she lives?"
"I do but I can't tell you." Nene said.
"Nene, can I speak to you privately?" Shaelynn asked as he got up from
the table.
"Sure what about?" Nene asked nervously.
"Well let's just say it's about last night." Shaelynn said.  "And you
know exactly what I am talking about too."
"Oh ok." Nene said.
"May I use your office?" Shaelynn asked the owner.
"Sure." The owner said and led the two of them to his office.
When they got inside Shaelynn turned around and confronted Nene.
"Alright I didn't want to say anything out there because I respect your
Privacy." Shaelynn began.
"What are you talking about?" Nene asked.
"Alright fine I know that you and your friend are KnightSabers."
Shaelynn whispered.
"How did you find out?" Nene hissed.
"I am an Esper Nene and well I scanned Priss on accident and Sylia as
well.  That is how I know about them.  I put two and two together and
figured you and your friend out as well.  Especially after what happened
last night.  I knew that she wouldn't be coming with you." Shaelynn
said.  "Don't worry I will not say a thing.  And don't you say a word to
Sylia about this either.  If she knew that I knew about you, and for
that matter that I was an Esper I would just die."
"You really like her don't you?" Nene asked.
"Who?" Shaelynn asked.
"Sylia that's who." Nene said.
"Well yeah."
"Don't worry about what people think of Espers.  Most people are very
glad to have Espers around.  Heck the incident of three days ago we knew
that there was an Esper near by because there was one in the unit that
was trying to deal with the boomer.  She knew that you were helping and
said nothing about it."
"So all of my paranoia was all for nothing?"
"Yeah kinda."
"Can I get the address now?"
"Sorry I still can't give it to you."
‘Looks like I will have to get it the hard way.'
"Hey I understand.  If you don't want to give it too me then that is
quite all right.  Maybe I am being a bit paranoid."  ‘Ha ha I got
exactly what I needed.  And to think that she didn't even notice that I
scanned her too.  She must be that dense.'
With that Shaelynn and Nene left the office and went back to the club
itself.
"Well did you get what you needed?" Tommy asked.
"Sure did and now I need you to cover my rear here." Shaelynn said.
"Ok sure." Tommy said.
"Thanks man." Shaelynn said as he grabbed his jacket and helmet.  "See
you a bit later." He then said as he walked out of the club.  Glancing
at his watch it said that the time was about 8:20 PM.  Getting on his
motorcycle, Shaelynn rode off for Priss' place.  He had this feeling
that he could not shake that something had happened to her.  Gunning the
engine to well within its limits, Shaelynn rode like a man possessed to
get to Priss' place.
When he arrived some fifteen minutes later he saw the same man that shot
him just two days before come walking out of her trailer.  Breaking into
a sprint he caught up to the sociopath.
"What in the hell did you do to Priss?  You bastard!" Shaelynn said
seething with anger.
"That is impossible you were supposed to be dead.  This is the real
life.  There ain't no coming back." He babbled on.
"What did you do to Priss?" Shaelynn yelled.
"I made it so we can never be apart." The guy said now looking very
pleased with himself.
"If you have hurt her in any way, shape, or form I will hunt you down
and exact the same things you did to her on you.  And I know what you
look like so don't try to hide.  I can even find you by your mental
patterns as well." Shaelynn snarled then ran inside.
Inside the scene was very chaotic.  There was tables overturned and
other things out of place.  What struck him was the form that was laying
in the middle of what could only pass as a living room.  Picking his way
through the overturned stuff to get to the form on the floor, Shaelynn
saw that his worst fears were true.  Something did happen to Priss.  She
was lying face down in a pool of her own blood.  She was conscious,
though and Shaelynn very gently turned her over.  The sight that he saw
almost made him lose what little lunch and dinner that he had ate.
There was a large wound in her left shoulder about the size of a
quarter.  Mentally grabbing anything that could be used to stop the
blood, Shaelynn went to work to try to keep her alive.  As he went to
call for an ambulance Priss managed to speak.  It was very weak but she
could talk.
"Don't, the ambulance won't get here in time." Priss said weakly.
"Priss don't talk like that I won't let you die.  On that I swear."
Shaelynn said.
"It's too late for me.   Oh and the bike is yours. I have two requests
that I would ask of you."
"Sure Priss what are they?"
"First, there is an envelope in my night stand.  Take it to Sylia.
She'll know what to do with it.  Secondly, avenge my death.  I know that
you have the means.  So use them."
"Alright Priss I will.  I should tell you a few things as well.  I knew
about you being a Knight Saber and well you might not believe this but I
am an Esper.
"No you can't be an Esper."
"I am.  I just hid it very well."
"I see and here all this time I never knew and I still liked you.  Ha
that'll teach me . . ."
"Priss, also my brother Tommy really like you as well.  Priss?" Shaelynn
said. He then felt her body grow very cold.  For the first time in seven
years Shaelynn had finally had a reason to cry.  His best friend that he
had only know for a couple of days had just died in his arms.  Shaelynn
just knelt there and cried for well over an hour.  Finally he found her
phone and dialed the number to what he would later recall it being the
AD Police.  As he was waiting he found the envelope and placed it in his
pocket and waited outside of her trailer for them to come.
The AD Police arrived with in ten minutes after he had called.  One of
the first people that got out of the car was Leon McNichol.  The others
all filed into the trailer to mark everything and dust for prints.
Looking at him, Shaelynn could not read anything in his expression.  In
fact he had a expression of ice.
"Are you the one that called us?" Leon asked.
"Yes I am." Shaelynn said.
"Did you see or hear anything?" Leon then asked.
"If you have a minute I will tell you what I found and how I found
Priss." Shaelynn said nearly crying again.
"Do you think he is the one that caused all of this?" Another man asked.

"Daily I don't think so." Leon said.
"No, he is not the one that killed Priss." Said a woman that was getting
out of a Squad car.  "He tried to save her life even though it was too
late for her."
"Looking up at this woman Shaelynn noticed that she had the whitest hair
that he could have ever seen and very deep blue eyes.
"She is an Esper isn't she?" Shaelynn asked.
"You mean Sylvia?  Then yes she is an Esper." Leon said.
"I really hate talking to Espers.  Something about them creeps me out."
Shaelynn said.  "It is not that I have anything against them it is just
that they tend to get into your mind when you don't want them too."
"Well would you tell me what you found?" Leon asked.
"I will tell only you and that is it." Shaelynn said.
"Why me?" Leon asked
"Because I trust you." Shaelynn said.
"Oh."
"Well inspector this is what I know happened.  I had finished working on
Priss' bike and called her to tell her that it was finished.  I got a
message that said that the phone was disconnected.  So I cleaned up
closed down the shop and went to the Hot Legs club.  I met my brother
there at 8:05 PM this evening and found out that Priss was late getting
in to the club.  I talked with my brother and a friend of Priss' named
Nene.  A charming girl, but anyway I got Priss' address and came over
here.  When I walked up to the door I noticed that the door had been
forced open.  When I got inside I noticed that the place looked as if
there had been a struggle.  I saw Priss lying face down in a pool of her
own blood.  I had to gently roll her over to see if she was still
alive.  She was but just barely.  She had a bullet wound in her left
shoulder that was the size of an American quarter.  I tried to call an
ambulance but she said that the ambulance would get here late.  Which I
might add would have and well that would have been that.  I tried to
stop the bleeding but I couldn't.  Then she died in my arms.  I cried
for nearly an hour then called you guys." Shaelynn said at length.
"So what you are saying is that you came over here found that Priss had
been shot tried to stop her from dying and then waited an hour to call
us after she had died?" Leon asked in shock.  "You could have left or
searched her place for valuables or what ever.  But you didn't.  Why is
that?"
"Well first of all I have too much respect for her to never steal from
her.  Secondly, The only thing that she had of value was her motorcycle
and it was at my shop.  Plus she said that I could have it.  And besides
if I did kill her then why in the world would I have tried to save her
and for that matter why in the hell would I be talking to you right
now?" Shaelynn said in answer to Leon's question.
"Inspector, there are fingerprints on the deceased's body." said one of
the junior detectives.
"Inspector McNichol, those fingerprints are mine and you know why they
are there too." Shaelynn said.
"Don't worry about them they were there while she was alive." Leon
said.  "Shaelynn would you be willing to go back to the station and re
tell me what happened?" Leon then asked.
"Sure I would be willing.  I will follow you back to the station."
Shaelynn said as he got on his motorcycle.  Shaelynn then followed Leon
back to the AD Police headquarters.  When he got there he followed Leon
over to his desk and began to retell what he found at Priss' place.
After finishing his statement, Shaelynn was about to leave when he was
harassed by a very short person with a very large mop of red hair and
very expressive green eyes.
"Hey what is a person like you doing here?" She asked.
"Just giving Leon a Statement and that is it." Shaelynn said.  And who
might you be little girl?"
"Argh I am the top scientific genius in all of Tokyo." She began.  I am
Yuriko Hiroshi!"
"Right so AD police are employing twelve-year-old children now?"Shaelynn
said as he left the building.
Getting out of the police station with out incident, Shaelynn got on his
bike and was about ready to head over to Sylia's place.  As he was about
to leave he saw a man walk by that looked very lost.  Getting off his
motorcycle, Shaelynn walked over to him to see if he needed directions.
As he got closer Shaelynn noticed that the man wore a tiger-striped
bandanna.  Recalling where he saw it before was on a small black pig.
"Um excuse me but you seem lost." Shaelynn said hesitantly.
"Where is Furinkian High school?" The man then said as he whirled around
and grabbed Shaelynn by the shirt.
"Calm down." Shaelynn said.  "I think that the school is in that
direction." Shaelynn said as he pointed in the direction that the man
had came from.
All he heard next was some swearing and then man wandered off in exactly
the opposite direction that he pointed.  Shaking his head, Shaelynn got
on his bike and rode off for Sylia's place.  He had to fulfil Priss'
final requests.  Thinking about the fact that Priss was killed in the
prime of her life made a tear come to his eye.  When he got to Sylia's
place he could not hold back the flood of emotions that poured out.
Shaelynn just sat on his motorcycle for a good half hour and cried.
******
Sylia's nights were getting very tortured as of late.  Tonight was the
worst.  The most recent occurrence put her in a very sinister presence.
It was almost as if the person was trying to kill her.  The mind that
invaded her's was powerful.  It had managed to destroy all of her
shields leaving her mind exposed to the mental onslaught.  This time the
man in the golden light was not there to help her.  This disturbed her
very much.  Every time before he had always been there.  This time she
woke up screaming.  As she calmed down she could hear a very loud and
desperate knocking on her door.  Pulling on a robe, Sylia opened the
door to find Shaelynn standing there looking very worried and to her it
looked as if he had been crying recently.
"Sha - Shaelynn what brings you here at midnight?" Sylia asked.
"Sylia, I really hate showing up here under bad circumstances every
single time." Shaelynn said.
"Please come in." Sylia said.  "So what has happened that you need to
tell me?  It looks as if you have been crying.  What about?"
"Sylia, how well did you know Priss?" Shaelynn asked as he sat down on a
couch.
"She was like family to me." Sylia said as she sat down next to him.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well I went to Priss' place to check on her and well I found her dying
of a gunshot wound." Shaelynn said.  "She was beyond help.  The
ambulance would have gotten there too late."
Shaelynn could swear that Sylia wanted to start to cry but was holding
back the torrent of emotions.  Deciding to chance it again, Shaelynn
took her into an embrace.
"Sylia, go on and let it out."  Shaelynn said soothingly.  "All of this
penned up emotion should not be held back."
Finally the dam on her emotions broke and Sylia started to cry really
hard. Looking down at her, Shaelynn noticed that Sylia was clinging to
him.
"Sylia, please help me to understand what you are going through."
Shaelynn said.
"It's just that I lost two people that were very close to me within a
few days of each other." Sylia said still crying.
"I don't know what to say." Shaelynn said as he still held her.  "I wish
I knew what to say or do to make you feel better, but I don't."
"I don't know either." Sylia said.  "But it puzzles me every time I am
hurt or sad you are here to help.  Why is that?"
"I am just concerned for you that is all.  Besides who else would you
turn too?" Shaelynn said.  "Plus there are some things that you need to
know about me.  They might change the way you think of me but I am used
to that by now."
"What is it that you think I need to know about you?" Sylia asked.
"Well Sylia, you see I am an Esper." Shaelynn said as he pulled away
from her.
"You mean that you are an Esper?" Sylia asked in shock.  ‘It is not as
if I didn't already know.'
"Yes I am." Shaelynn said feeling very guilty.  "I didn't want to tell
you."
"Why tell me in the first place?" Sylia asked.
"Sylia, this is going to sound really weird.  Since I have known you in
highschool I sorta have a crush on you." Shaelynn said.
"Well I am flattered, but I can't be tied down by a relationship." Sylia
said.
"I know that." Shaelynn said.  "But you need to realize that you can't
always bare this emotional burden alone."
"I have been doing it this long." Sylia said.
"Listen, I know all about the burden that you are carrying." Shaelynn
said.  "You don't have to carry it alone."
"What are you saying?" Sylia asked.
"I am saying let me in your life." Shaelynn said.  "That is all I ask."
"Do you realize what you ask of me?" Sylia asked.  "You are asking me to
open up to you when that would go against everything that I believe in.
Plus I don't even know you."
"Sylia, we have known each other since high school." Shaelynn said.
"Listen we had two classes together and for that matter we always had
lunch together.  Up until you disappeared after graduation, I thought
that we would keep in touch.  And now I see you here."
"You are right I do remember you from school.  You were the only one
that I could have a decent conversation with." Sylia said.  "But I have
too many things going on right now."
"Are they too important not to want to think about yourself?" Shaelynn
asked.
"Yes.  I can't overlook the fact that I have things that must be done.
My life is unimportant right now."
"What about the nightmares?" Shaelynn asked.  The expression on Sylia's
face was that of shock.  "I saw a little bit of them when you touched
me.  I didn't mean to do a deep scan, it just happened." Shaelynn said
as he started to pace the room.
"So you do know about them, don't you?" Sylia asked.
"Yeah I know about them." Shaelynn said as he stopped by the windows.
"I have been having a similar dream.  Now I think that I understand the
meaning of my dream.  I have no idea about yours."
"Can you help me with them?" Sylia asked.
"As you wish." Shaelynn said.
"How?" Sylia asked as she got up from the couch.
‘She is still upset.  I wish that I could do something to ease her
pain.  But I am no god.' Shaelynn thought.  ‘If only she would not try
to shut me out.'
"Sylia the only way that I can think of is to take control of your
dreams." Shaelynn said.
"That is it?" Sylia asked in shock.
"That is my guess.  But about you.  Let me ask you one question."
Shaelynn said as he laid a hand on the window.
"Ok what is your question?" Sylia said as she stopped a few feet from
him.
"My question is this." Shaelynn began.  "Can you truly be happy with the
way you are?"
As soon as he asked his question, Sylia lost control of her emotions and
started to panic.
"What did I say?" Shaelynn asked as he walked over to her.
"Your question was exactly what I was asked in my nightmare." Sylia said
as she backed away from him.
"Well what did you answer?" Shaelynn asked.
"I couldn't answer." Sylia said.  "I didn't know how to answer."
"Well are you happy the way you are?"
"I don't know."
"Yes or no is all this question requires."
"Then I guess I am happy the way I am."
"Sylia, don't lie to yourself.  I am not pressuring you, but I can tell
that you are not happy with the way you are now.  You have never been
treated like a woman at all.  It always has been as a leader or
surrogate mother to two of your friends, and to your departed brother.
I am offering you a chance to have someone else be in your life.  Some
one who will shower you with all of the affection that you deserve.
Nothing more."
"I suppose we could try to have a relationship." Sylia said.  "But you
realize that this will be very awkward for me."
"As for me." Shaelynn said as he looked out of the window.  "This is
going to be my first actual relationship."
"Really?" Sylia asked.  I would have thought that you would have had at
least one girlfriend.
"Sadly, no." Shaelynn said with a resigned sigh.  "Because I am an
Esper, that tends to turn off most people."
"I see." Sylia said.  "Yet why would that turn off most people?"
‘Are you that dense?' Shaelynn thought.
"Sylia what you may not understand is that as soon as they find out that
I am a Telepath they usually run." Shaelynn said.  "Yet you seem not to
care about that."
"Why should I care?" Sylia asked.
"Well I don't know why." Shaelynn said very exasperated.
"Would you do one favor for me?"  Sylia asked.
"What is it?" Shaelynn asked half turning.
"Stay here tonight."
"Sylia, as much as I would like to, there is no way I can stay with out
feeling guilty." Shaelynn said as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"However, I will leave you with a very special gift."
What Shaelynn did next, startled Sylia.  Shaelynn took off his gloves
and then in an act of either pure bravery or stupidity, Shaelynn cupped
her face in his hands and then kissed her.  As soon as he pulled away,
he was expecting to either be slapped or something.  What he got instead
was Sylia blushing.
"What did you just do?" Sylia asked when she could speak.
"Sylia we are now mentally linked." Shaelynn said.
"Linked?  How?" Sylia asked when she regained her composure.
"Sylia because you were willing I was able to use my Telepathic Talent
to put a little piece of me in your mind and you in mine." Shaelynn
said.  "Call it a two way emotional link.  That is all."
"I see." Sylia said.  "When will I see you again?"
"You know where to find me." Shaelynn said.  "One last thing before I
go.  Priss, before she died asked me to give you this envelope.  She
said that you knew what to do with it." Shaelynn said as he handed the
envelope to her.
"Thank you." Sylia said as she took it from him.
"Now I have a favor to ask of you." Shaelynn said.
"What is it?" Sylia asked.
"Please go back to sleep.  I will be there for you now." Shaelynn said
gently.
"Alright." Sylia said.
"I must go home now but I hope to see you soon." Shaelynn said as he
walked out of her apartment.
As soon as Shaelynn left, Sylia opened the envelope and read it's
contents.

Sylia-
If you are reading this then for some reason I am dead.  Maybe on a job
or maybe to a traffic accident.  Whatever the case I want you to know
that I have never bore you any ill will in regards to you stopping me
from a suicidal course of action three years ago.  In fact I am glad
that you did stop me.  Regarding my position in the KnightSabers I have
decided that the Blue Knight is the only one qualified to take my
place.  Please treat him with the respect that he is due.  He is a kind
and gentle man with a good heart.  I should know.  I haven't told anyone
but he was the one that I wanted to have a meaningful relationship with.

Priss
"Oh Priss if you only knew that he did not share your feelings." Sylia
said as she finished the letter and wiping away a tear.  "So she wants
Shaelynn to take her place?  I was going to ask him to join eventually.
It seems that I will be asking him sooner than expected."
After finishing the letter, Sylia laid back down and tried to get back
to sleep.  Finally some thirty minutes later she did manage to get back
to sleep.
******
As Shaelynn got on his bike to return home, he glanced up to Sylia's
apartment.  He was torn between going back up there and staying and
following through with his promise to avenge Priss' death.  Realizing
that his promise to Priss was a priority, Shaelynn rode off to his shop.

When he got to the shop, Shaelynn started reconfiguring his suit to
capture the killer.  He took off  the electro dagger on his right arm
and replaced with a whip.  Shaelynn also turned down the voltage on the
whip side to just enough power to stun his intended target.  Not being
stupid he left the other dagger on and then rerouted the extra power
from the dagger power plant that was being used on the whip to the
lasers and the other dagger power plant.  He still needed the other
weapons just incase he ran across some of Genom's "lost" boomers.  Lost
indeed, they were specifically programmed to go berserk.  Plus tonight
he knew that there would be at least one Boomer that was looking for his
brother.  Finishing the modifications to his suit, Shaelynn looked at
the clock.  The time was two in the morning.  Shedding the Jumpsuit and
the mesh, Shaelynn stepped into his modified suit and took off to find
the person that killed Priss.  Skimming along the roof tops he started
to scan the city for any signs of him.  Strangely enough he found him
standing outside a house on the outskirts of the town.  Glancing at the
house, Shaelynn recognized that the house was where his three sisters
lived.  Jessica, Kim, and Natasha all lived together in this house since
their parents died.  Their brothers Jeff, Keith, and Tommy all lived
away from the house in different parts of the city.  The only one that
they still had contact with was Shaelynn.
"What in the hell is he doing at my sisters' place?" Shaelynn fumed.
Landing just outside the driveway, Shaelynn walked the rest of the way
up the driveway to where the person was.  Getting to within reach of his
whip, Shaelynn spoke.
"Cameron Michaels!" Shaelynn shouted.  The microphone inside his helmet
magnified his voice to the point where he could be heard.  Waiting for
him to turn around Shaelynn hoped that he didn't wake up his sisters.
Glancing up at the windows he saw that they were awake already.  "You
must be brought to justice for the murders that you have committed!"
"I committed no murders." Cameron said shakily.
"Dose the names Brittany McGee, Melissa Andrew, Courtney Scott, and
Priscilla Asagiri ring any bells?"
"All of them are mine." Cameron said.
"THEY ARE ALL DEAD THANKS TO YOU" Shaelynn bellowed.  "I will not let
you harm anyone else.  Too many people have suffered.  I will not let
one more family be broken up because of you." Shaelynn then said as he
launched his whip at Cameron to try to catch him.  Some how he managed
to avoid it.
‘Damn he is quick.' Shaelynn thought as he recoiled his whip and started
to chase after him.
******
Nene had just got back to work when she saw that Leon was very upset for
some reason.
"Leon what is wrong?" Nene asked.
"Nene, you had better sit down." Leon said.
"Ok." Nene said as she sat down.  "Now what is wrong?"
"Priss has been murdered." Leon said bluntly.
At that Nene just broke down and started to cry.
"Why - why would anyone want to kill Priss?" Nene said through sobs.
"Priss didn't hurt anyone."
"I know Nene I know." Leon said as he tried to comfort the grieving
red-head.  He was getting nowhere fast and well it was tough.
"Who found her?" Nene asked.
"Shaelynn found her.  Do you know him?" Leon asked.
"I talked to him briefly at the Hot Legs tonight.  I had no idea that he
knew where she lived."
"Well he is a re. . ." Leon started but was interrupted by one of the
dispatchers.
"Inspector, there is a running fire fight between an armored individual
and a boomer.  The person in armor seems to be running after a man."
"I see." Leon said.  "Tell my unit to move out and try to intercept
him."
"Understood." The dispatcher said.
Composing herself enough she realized that she had to call Sylia and
give her the bad news.  Dialing the number to Sylia's place Nene waited
until the phone was picked up.  It was on audio only so she could talk
privately.
"Hello." Sylia said sleepily.
"Sylia this is Nene." Nene said on the verge of crying again.
"Nene what is wrong?" Sylia asked.
"It's Priss, she's dead." Nene said this time crying.
"It's alright I already know I was told about two hours ago." Sylia
said.
"That isn't the half of it.  There is some armored individual that is
causing problems because he is chasing someone and fighting a boomer as
well.  We need to stop him.  If we can we need to get the ‘Blue
Knight's' help as well to stop him."
"Ok Nene I'll prep the suits." Sylia said.  "You are right this can't be
overlooked.  Get over here as fast as possible."
"Right." Nene said as she hung up.
Figuring some way to sneak out, Nene got on her Scooter and went over to
Sylia's place.
When she got there Sylia was already dressed in their soft under suit
that their Hard Suits attached to.  Nene quickly changed into hers and
they both boarded their suits and headed out to find this person that
was causing the ruckus.
"Sylia, did you get a hold of the Blue Knight?" Nene asked.
"No I didn't." Sylia said sharply.  "I haven't been able to get in touch
with him since he last worked with us."
"I see." Nene said.
When they arrived Sylia and Nene saw that the boomer was well under
control and the person in armor had fled the scene.  Nene and Sylia
split up to look for him.
"Nene if you find him, do not I repeat do not engage him." Sylia
cautioned.  "I have a bad feeling who this is and we could be fighting
for our lives if we engage him."
"Understood, Sylia." Nene said as she flew off to look for the person.
Sylia also flew off to look for the mysterious person as well.
******
Shaelynn had managed to lose the person that he was tracking yet again.
This was really beginning to irritate him.  Shaelynn needed to find that
murderer and quick before he managed to double back and return to his
sisters' place.  Stopping to get his bearings, Shaelynn's proximity
sensors went off.  Turning to face the direction of where the sensors
pointed, he saw that there was a pink Hard Suit that was watching him.
‘Well I see that Sylia and Nene are here.  Question being why though?'
Shaelynn thought.
Ignoring the suit, Shaelynn continued to look for the murderer.  Finally
catching sight of him again, Shaelynn skimmed off after him.  Once again
when he got to within reach of him with the whip, Shaelynn got his
attention.
"I told you that you can't hide." Shaelynn said.
"Why must you do this?  I meant no harm by it.  I wanted them to return
my love and they scorned me." Cameron said.
"PEOPLE ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!" Shaelynn yelled.  "I will not allow
it to happen again." Shaelynn growled as he launched his whip at
Cameron.
Like before Cameron dodged out of the way, but this time he was not
expecting the whip to follow him.  Unfortunately for Cameron he was
caught by the whip and it encircled him.
"Don't try to struggle." Shaelynn said.  "The more you squirm the
tighter it gets."
"You would deny me the love of my beloved Natasha?" Cameron said.
"She doesn't love you." Shaelynn growled as he flexed his wrist.  A low
level electrical current ran down the whip and into his body.  "I will
not allow you to speak her name!!  She would never want you!!"
At this moment two other figures came out of the shadows and freed him
of the whip.  Once freed, Cameron ran off again.  Turning to see who it
was that freed his prisoner, he saw that it was a gray and blue Hard
Suit and a red and pink Hard Suit.  Shaelynn's heart sank when he saw
them.  How could the woman that he loved just go and betray him like
that.
"What do you think that you are doing by crushing him like that?" The
gray suit asked.
"Saber Prime, That man killed a very close friend of mine and was about
to do the same to another." Shaelynn seethed.  "And you set him free!!"
"Still you didn't have to try to crush him." the pink suit said.
"I was trying to subdue and take him in to the police." Shaelynn
growled.  "Now I have to find him again."
"This ain't over between us.  Not by a long shot!!" Shaelynn said as he
got into the face of Saber Prime.
Sylia was getting very furious.  She switched to her suit communications
channel and tuned it to the Blue Knight's frequency.
"Shaelynn, if that is you listen to me." Sylia said.
"Sylia why should I?" Shaelynn growled.  "I trusted you and now you
betrayed me.  I really hate it when I am betrayed."
"If you would have told me what you were up to I would have helped you."
Sylia said.
"Yeah what ever!" Shaelynn said as he cut the internal communications.
"Saber Prime, if you and Saber Pink want to help then stay the hell out
of my way.  I will not let Priss' death go unavenged!!" Shaelynn snarled
and took off to look for him once again.
"Sylia, what is going on here?" Nene asked.
"It seems that the Blue Knight is out for vengeance." Sylia said.  "I
suggest that we discreetly help him to find the person that we let go."
"Are you crazy?" Nene asked in shock.  "I think he means to come back
and kill us when he takes him in.  Besides without Linna and Priss we
can't even try to stop him.  I mean with Priss and Linna we would really
be at a disadvantage.  But with just two of us we are sorely
outnumbered."
"No I don't think that he will do that." Sylia said more to herself than
to Nene.
"How do you figure that much?" Nene asked in wonderment.
"Let's just say I have a hunch." Sylia enigmatically.
"Ok fine let's go help him." Nene said as she took off to follow him.
******
Shaelynn was very irate now.  How could he have been so deceived into
thinking that he could trust the KnightSabers.  He would deal with them
when the time came.  As he flew on to find his target, he was hit by a
wave of total fury.  It was so bad that Shaelynn dropped out of the sky
like a rock.  Luckily, he used the jets on his suit to slow his decent
and landed.  Making sure that no one was looking, Shaelynn pulled his
helmet off and clutched his temples in pain.  Focusing on the person
that was broadcasting on such a wide mental band, Shaelynn found that
the person that was in a rage was none other than Priss' older brother,
Akira.
"Shit, he knows and now I have to find Cameron before Akira does."
Shaelynn swore.
Then it hit him.  In the last six years the prisons were so over crowded
that first time offenders were hardly ever put in prison.  It was
usually a slap on the wrist and let off with a minor charge.  Shaelynn
was determined to not let this guy escape justice.  Of all things his
next target was his baby sister.
"There will be no trial for this one." Shaelynn growled as he put his
helmet back on.  "His punishment will be death.  The punishment shall
fit his crime."
With that he flew off to find the person and deal with him.  In flight
Shaelynn talked himself out of killing him and letting the courts deal
with it.  Shaelynn found the person some twenty minutes later.  Landing
right in front of him, Shaelynn wrapped him up in his whip and then flew
off.
"What are you going to do with me?" Cameron asked.
"I am going to bring you to justice." Shaelynn growled.
"Ha ha!  They will just let me walk." Cameron said.  "Besides there is
no proof to tie me to all of them.  I was just making sure that they
would never leave me."
"You killed them you psycho bastard!!" Shaelynn snarled as he tightened
the grip on his whip.  "Now shut the hell up or I will strangle you
right here!"
As he flew towards the AD Police building Shaelynn decided to find a way
to make the charges stick.
‘There is no other way to do this and I hate to read people's minds.'
Shaelynn thought.  Looking at Cameron, Shaelynn deep scanned him and
found the location of where the gun was that he used to kill Priss.  It
was amazing that the AD Police passed right over it.  Landing at what
used to be Priss' place, Shaelynn tied Cameron to a Tree with a piece of
Abodex cable that he had brought with him.  Walking over to where the
gun was Shaelynn reached out with his mind and placed it in a bag.
Grabbing the bag and Cameron, Shaelynn then flew off to the AD Police.
As soon as he landed the rest of the AD Police immediately swarmed
around him and tried to arrest him.
"I want to speak to an Inspector McNichol." Shaelynn said over the
external microphone.
"I am Inspector McNichol." Leon said as he picked his way through the
crowd.  "How can I help you?"
"I have a suspect in the murder of Priscilla Asagiri." Shaelynn said.
"Here is the Murder weapon." Shaelynn said as he handed Leon a bag.
"This gun should match the bullet that killed Ms. Asagiri and that was
used in an attempted murder on my employer.  Plus the fingerprints
should be the same as this man's."
"And your employer is?" Leon asked.
"His name is Shaelynn Benton." Shaelynn said.  He was enjoying all of
this and it took a great force of will for him to not crack up with
laughter.  "Mr. Benton has instructed me to inform you that he is
wanting to press charges."
"I see." Leon said.  "But why does he look a little ruffed up?"
"He tried to run from me." Shaelynn said.
"Well I will be getting a hold of your employer as soon as possible to
fill out all of the paper work." Leon said as he took the prisoner away.

"Understood." Shaelynn said.  "I must be going now.  I have some
unfinished business to attend to." Shaelynn said as he flew off.
Deciding to deal with Sylia almost immediately, Shaelynn flew over to
her building.  Landing on the deck outside of her room, Shaelynn easily
forced the door open and walked into the place.  Deciding to stay in his
suit, Shaelynn just stood in Sylia's room and waited.  It was some time
later when she came back up to her room.  However, she was still in her
suit.  It turns out that Shaelynn had tripped a silent alarm and Sylia
had came upstairs to see who it was.
"What are you doing here?" Sylia asked in shock to see the Blue Knight
in her place.
"I said this wasn't over." Shaelynn said as he took off his helmet.
"Now Sylia do you want to talk to me civilly, or shall we fight it out?"

"How do you know who I am?" Sylia asked defensively.
"Oh come on now I have known for some time.  Besides it wasn't that hard
to figure out." Shaelynn snapped.  "Now do you want to explain why in
the hell you did what you did?"
"Well Shaelynn dear, if you would have told me the entire truth about
you in the first place this wouldn't have happened." Sylia said.
"Look this wasn't any of your concern.  I was asked by Priss to avenge
her death.  And I was not even able to do that.  I should have killed
that bastard.  But I knew if I did then I was no better than him.
Besides if you did help me would you not be breaking one of your own
rules?  And I quote ‘Solo actions are prohibited.' also ‘do not act on a
personal grudge.'  Now tell me isn't the violation for breaking one of
them execution?"
"That is true." Sylia said.
"However, that is water under the bridge right now we have a bigger
problem." Shaelynn said.
"What is it?"
"Priss' older brother.  He has gone mad.  It turns out that he found out
that Priss was dead and now he is wanting revenge of his own."
"I had no idea that Priss had any living family." Sylia said in
amazement.  "I was under the impression that all of her family was
killed in the earthquake."
"Not all of them." Shaelynn said.  "Priss was the youngest of four
kids.  Two older brothers and a one older sister.  Akira is the oldest
of the four and then Priss' other brother and then her sister.  I am
afraid that her brother is not going to take this that easily."
"But he is just a normal person." Sylia said dismissing it casually.
"I wouldn't dismiss it that easily.  Akira is an Esper." Shaelynn said.
"What?" Sylia asked in shock.  "That is impossible."
"No it isn't impossible." Shaelynn said.  "He is, and if I am not
mistaken he will attack anyone and anything that gets in his way to kill
the person that killed his sister."
"Could we deal with this later?" Sylia asked through a yawn.  "I am so
tired."
"As am I and well I need to put my suit in a charging unit." Shaelynn
said.
"Come with me you can use one of ours." Sylia said as she led him down
into the equipment bay.
When they got down there, Nene had just stepped out of her suit and was
putting it in the recharge unit.  As soon as Sylia and Shaelynn stepped
in the door Nene was very upset.
"Sylia how could you?" Nene squealed.
"It is alright Nene, he knows about us." Sylia said.  "He just needs to
use a charging unit to charge his suit."
As Nene looked over she got the biggest shock of her life.  She saw
Shaelynn in the armor of the Blue Knight.
"You mean he is the Blue Knight?" Nene stuttered.
"I thought he told all of us a couple of nights ago?" Sylia asked.
"Um well I erased everyone's memories of my admitting who I am."
Shaelynn said.
"You didn't erase mine." Sylia said.
"That is a long story and I will explain it later." Shaelynn said as he
keyed the sequence to allow him to get out of the suit.  When the
automated systems finished, Shaelynn stepped out of his suit.  Sylia and
Nene both noticed that he was wearing  similar inner wear that they
wear.  Shaelynn then hefted his suit into the recharging unit and closed
it.  Turning around, he saw that both Sylia and Nene were staring at
him.  He noticed that Nene was blushing.
"What is it Nene?" Shaelynn asked.
"Nothing." Nene said innocently.
"Uh huh," Shaelynn said bemusedly.  "Well Sylia do you mind if I crash
on a couch or something?"
"No I don't mind." Sylia said.
"Thanks." Shaelynn said.
******
That night while he slept, Shaelynn had managed to roll of the couch and
land on the floor with a resounding thud.  Getting up off the floor,
Shaelynn looked around and saw that Sylia was still asleep.  Sitting on
the couch, Shaelynn just thought about what was going on.
‘This isn't right.  I shouldn't even be here.  I still cannot bring
myself to stay here.  I know what will end up happening if I do and well
I don't want any hurt feelings.  I have to leave.' Shaelynn thought as
he silently got up.
Shaelynn found a pen and a piece of paper and wrote her a note.  It was
not very long, just long enough to let her know that he left and why.
Silently teleporting down to the equipment room, Shaelynn pulled his
suit from the recharging unit and put it back on.  Then Teleporting back
up to her room, Shaelynn stopped by her bed and gave her a kiss on the
cheek before teleporting outside.
"I am so sorry Sylia but I just can't stay." Shaelynn said once he had
his helmet on.
Using his telekinetic talent to lift himself off of the roof and to a
height that was safe enough to ignite his flight jets, Shaelynn waited
to see if anyone noticed him and then flew off.  Checking the
chronometer that was inside the helmet he saw that is was nearly four in
the morning.
Muttering something about not wanting to open the shop, Shaelynn flew
back to the shop to change.  When he landed outside of his shop, he saw
someone waiting for him.  As he looked at the person, he noticed that it
was Priss' older brother.
"What are you doing here?" Shaelynn asked.  "My employer will not
appreciate you hanging around his shop."
"Tell your employer that I will kill him and the person that killed my
sister.  It is his fault for not protecting her.  If I see him he dies.
Any and all of her friends that knows her and especially the
KnightSabers die.  I am not blind to the fact that she was a part of the
KnightSabers.  They especially will die." Akira said fuming.
"Whatever." Shaelynn said as he opened the door to the shop and walked
in.
Not wanting to chance a confrontation with him, Shaelynn locked the door
and pulled off his suit.
"What in the hell makes that little twit think that I was supposed to
protect her?" Shaelynn asked himself as he pulled his mesh back on.  "I
am no one's bodyguard and that is final.  Still if that bastard even
lays one finger on Sylia I will personally kill him.  But they do need
to be warned."
Teleporting home, Shaelynn went to the living room and fell asleep on
the couch.
******
The next morning Sylia woke up and half expected to see Shaelynn's
sleeping form still on one of her couches.  What she saw was that he was
gone.  This puzzled her.  Walking over to the computer to check the
security cameras, she found his note.  All it said was:
Sylia-
I can't stay.  There is no way that I would be able to stay right now
with out having my conscious nagging at me.  It isn't right.  I wish
that I could explain it but I can't.  I guess what I am trying to say is
that I am scared that I will hurt your feelings if I do something
wrong.  I am scared Sylia.  This is new ground for me and I am just
plain terrified that I will do something wrong.  I am so sorry.
Shaelynn
"How does he think I feel?" Sylia asked herself as she read the note.
"It is almost as if he refuses physical contact of any type.  What is he
still hiding from me?"
Checking the security cameras, Sylia noticed that Shaelynn had taken his
suit and then disappeared from the building all together.  This was
intriguing her none to say the least.  Here she was seeing someone and
it was looking as if he did not want any physical contact what so ever.
She had no idea whether or not that he was scared of her or sharing any
physical contact.  This puzzled her and irritated her.  She would have
to deal with this later.  Right now she needed to check on Linna.
Walking down the hall to the spare room, Sylia was going over everything
that Shaelynn had told her last night.  It shocked and amazed her that
Priss' older brother was an Esper.  She had no idea that there was any
of Priss' family that was still alive.  As she opened the door, she saw
that Linna was up and moving about.  Sylia decided to explain everything
to Linna later.  However, she needed to get in touch with a funeral home
to prepare a service that was befitting Priss.  While she was on the
phone, Linna walked in and sat down.  As soon as she finished her
conversation she went over to talk to Linna.
"You feeling better Linna?" Sylia asked.
"I am a little better." Linna said as she stretched.  "What happened to
me?"
"Well Linna it turned out that the boomer that we took out was a set
up.  Who ever sent it made the thing to take all of us out.  This boomer
was designed to split apart and pick us off one by one.  I think that
they were not expecting to have to deal with the Blue Knight as well.
He was the one that saved you from getting killed." Sylia said at
length.
"Um where is Priss wasn't she supposed to be here today?" Linna asked.
"Well Linna, Priss was murdered last night by a person that was stalking
her." Sylia said.  "I am still trying to find out everything but the
only one that has any information about it is Shaelynn and well I
haven't had the time to talk to him."
"What does Shaelynn have to do with all of this?" Linna asked as she
wiped away a tear.
"Well Shaelynn was the one that found her, and well he knows more than
he is willing to tell." Sylia said.  ‘Yeah tell her that Shaelynn was
about ready to execute him and for that matter us out of pure vengeance
for Priss' death' Sylia thought as she tried to comfort Linna.
"Sylia when you talk to him I would like to talk to him as well." Linna
said.  "I have to ask him some things myself.  I seem to have some parts
of my memory missing and I was hoping that he knew what could have
caused it."
"Alright I will call him and see if we can talk to him today." Sylia
said as she dialed the number to his shop.  Strangely enough there was
no answer at the shop.
"Well?" Linna asked.
"He is not there." Sylia said.  "That is strange I would expect him to
be there at this hour."
"Where do you think he could be?" Linna asked.
"I have a hunch as to where he would be so let's get going there." Sylia
said as she walked out of her place.  Linna quickly followed right
behind her.
******
That morning was stressful for Shaelynn.  Already he had to attend
several business meetings and on top of that he had to get back into the
mood of running his company once again.  He had been at his secondary
job of the garage for too long and it was beginning to eat at him that
he was not more in touch with the workings of his company like he should
be.  He knew that if he stayed at his company and did this then there
would be no way that he would be able to keep up the guise that he was
just a mild mannered shop owner.  He knew that if Genom found out that
he was in full command of Com-Tech then they would have even more reason
to want to kill him.
That morning for some strange reason that he just could not quite
explain, he knew that there would be two people coming to see him.
"Mariko, I am expecting a couple of people sometime today." Shaelynn
said as he walked out of his office.
"Do you know what they look like?" Mariko asked.
"Well one of them has green eyes and wears a yellow head band.  She
almost always dresses casually.  The other one always dresses really
nice and has brown eyes.  Their names are Linna Yamazaki and Sylia
Stingray." Shaelynn said.
"Ok I understand.  What should I tell them if you are not here?" Mariko
asked.
"Tell them that I will be right back I had to go check on something
elsewhere." Shaelynn said.
"Ok I will." Mariko said.  "How long do you expect to be gone?"
"Not very long." Shaelynn said.  "I will see you after a bit." And with
that Shaelynn stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the parking
garage.  As soon as he got to the garage Shaelynn got in his car and
drove off to go do a few errands.
One of the places that he stopped was at a small store.  As he walked in
he noticed that it still had people coming in and buying groceries from
it.  It surprised him that a small business like this was still
operational.  What with Genom and Green Foods providing all of the food
for Tokyo and a good portion of the world.  Picking up some things that
he forgot to get yesterday, Shaelynn casually walked around the shop.
It had a feel of a family.
‘I think I will always get my groceries here from now on.  I like the
feel of this place.' Shaelynn thought.
As soon as he got all of the things he needed he walked up to the
counter to pay for them.  He noticed that there was only one person that
worked here.  However, it did not bother him that much because this was
a small store and it did not need many people to run it.  The owner of
this store was a woman.  Shaelynn did not have anything against a woman
running a store but it surprised him that she looked so familiar.  If
only he knew where he had saw that face before.
"Will that be all?" The lady asked.
"Um yes that will be all." Shaelynn stuttered.
"With the tax it will be five thousand yen." The woman said.
Shaelynn handed the lady six thousand for the groceries and after
receiving his change started to leave.
"Um excuse me sir may I take a moment of your time?" The woman asked.
Curious as to what she wanted, Shaelynn walked back over to the counter.

"Sure we can talk." Shaelynn said with a smile.  "What can I do for
you?"
"I was wondering if you could direct me to a non corrupt private
investigator." The woman said
"At the risk of sounding rude, but why do you need a private
investigator?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well I was hoping one could help me track down my missing children."
She said.
"Um how long has it been since you have seen them?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well you see I left my husband back in 2020 when he would refuse to
come home at night.  He would spend weeks on end at work with out any
concern for his family." The woman said.
"May I ask your name?" Shaelynn asked.
"It is Cassandra Stingray." Cassandra said.  "I wouldn't expect you to
understand what I am going through.  Because you and your parents must
get along very well."
"We did when they were alive." Shaelynn said.
"What happened to them?" Cassandra asked.
"In the years after the huge Earthquake my parents were killed by a
supposedly rouge boomer." Shaelynn said in disgust.
"Why would Boomers kill your parents?" Cassandra asked.
"Ms. Stingray what you may or may not realize is that it was Genom that
murdered my parents." Shaelynn said.
"Who was your parents?" Cassandra asked.
"Emmett and Melinda Benton." Shaelynn said.
"I see." Cassandra said.
"You know if you want I can try to look for your two children for you."
Shaelynn said.  "What are their names?"
"Sylia and Mackie." Cassandra said.
"Sylia and Mackie?" Shaelynn said more to himself.  "Tell you what I
will try to find them and let you know where they are."
"How much will I have to pay for your services?" Cassandra asked.
"Ms.  Stingray, I will not charge you because I want to see you reunited
with your children." Shaelynn said.
"You are too kind." Cassandra said.
"Well Ms. Stingray I must be going now and I will get on that as soon as
possible." Shaelynn said.
Getting back in his car, Shaelynn drove off first for home to put up
some of the groceries and took the rest back to work with him.  What he
had offered to do for her was already done it was just a matter of
telling Sylia that he had found her mother.  He figured that he would
surprise them both.  However, what was going on took higher priority
than that for the moment.  As soon as he parked his car Shaelynn went
over to the private elevator that took him up to his office on the
thirteenth floor.  Putting the pop in the refrigerator, Shaelynn went
out to tell Mariko that he was back.  As he stepped out of his office he
saw that the two people that he was expecting was waiting for him.
Shaelynn had to stifle a laugh at the expression on Linna's face and for
that matter Sylia.  It was a shock to see that Sylia of all people was
speechless.  Inviting them into his office so they could speak
privately, Shaelynn knew exactly how he was going to question them.
"I suppose you both want to know what I am doing here?" Shaelynn asked
them.
"Yes I would like to know why you are here instead of at the shop."
Sylia said with some venom to her words.  "You could have at least told
me that you would have been here."
"No I couldn't have." Shaelynn said.
"And why not?" Linna asked.
"Well for the simple fact that there was a Genom agent in the lobby
waiting to identify me and well if they know that I am running this
place now then there will be one more reason for them to kill me."
"What in the world would Genom want you a mild mannered garage owner
killed for?" Linna asked.  "And why are you in the Chairman's office?"
"Are you that dense?" Shaelynn retorted.  "I am the Chairman of this
company.  "The garage that I run is to keep Genom from figuring out that
I am in charge of Com-Tech."
"Oh." Linna said as she recoiled from Shaelynn's outburst.
"The reason why they want me killed is for this." Shaelynn said as he
slid a thing across his desk about the size of a credit card.
"What is it?" Sylia asked.
"That is the first ever fully functional Artificial Intelligence."
Shaelynn said.
"But my father was the one that developed Artificial Intelligence that
would be used for boomers." Sylia said as she picked it up and looked at
it.
"Ah but this one has something that those didn't have.  This one has the
capability to learn and grow.  You see this AI was built to never under
any circumstances harm a human no matter what the provocation.  It must
obey any orders that a human gives it, except if the order is to harm a
human.  Finally if must be able to preserve its own self of course as
long as it doesn't break the other two programs."
"So in a sense you have just made an AI that is a pacifist?" Linna
asked.
"Not exactly.  Think if you will to what the boomers were originally
designed for.  Space exploration.  This AI will be ideal for just such
an application."
"What I see is that you are starting to act like the Chairman of Genom."
Sylia said.
"Sylia, no I am not." Shaelynn said.  "This was or I should say is the
prime project of this Company." Shaelynn said.  "My father was murdered
for the information on this AI and one other thing.  A computer virus
that is able to shut down all boomers and render their primitive AI's
inert.  All of this plus some technical data on a new type of battle
suit that he and Dr. Stingray were working on, and the camera footage of
Dr.  Stingray's murder was sent to me on a data unit."
"Where is that data unit?" Sylia asked.  "I would like to look at it."
"It is safe.  And that is all I will tell you." Shaelynn said.  "Let's
just say that I don't trust my secretary to not be a Genom agent."
"I see." Sylia said.  "The real reason that we are here is because I
need to know just how much you truly know about what happened to Priss
last night."
"Sylia tell you what, how about I meet you at your place and I will tell
you everything about what I know and if I were you two, I would ride
down in my elevator with me." Shaelynn said.
"Why do you say that?" Linna asked.
"Because there is someone that wants to kill the both of you and well
let's just say he is an Esper." Shaelynn said.
"Ok."  Linna said.
"Mariko I am taking the rest of the day off." Shaelynn said as he shut
his office door.
Getting in the elevator with them, Shaelynn could not help but to brush
into Linna.  As per usual he got a very deep scan from her.  The
impressions that he got from her was that of confusion and of total
outrage.  Luckily the outrage was not directed at him but at the person
that killed Priss.
"Don't worry Linna that little shit won't be seeing the light of day for
several years." Shaelynn said.
"Huh?  How did you know what I was thinking?" Linna asked in shock and
with enough ire to not be noticed.
"Linna I am an Esper." Shaelynn said bluntly.
"That is impossible!" Linna said in horror.  "There is no way that you
could be and Esper.  I mean all of the Espers that I have seen were . .
."
"Were driven mad by their powers." Shaelynn said finishing her train of
thought.  "I am one of the very few that was not driven mad by my
powers.  I have had mine since I was three." Shaelynn said sadly.  "They
have been my curse."
"That long?" Sylia asked.  "I am surprised that you were not driven mad
at such a young age."
"Sylia I tuned out the voices in my head easily." Shaelynn said.
"Besides it was not that hard."
"I see." Sylia said.  "But what bothers me is what you said about an
Esper that wants to kill us."
"Get hold of Nene and I will tell you all about it when we are
together." Shaelynn said as the doors opened.
As soon as they stepped into the garage, Shaelynn got an impression of
danger.  Looking around, Shaelynn could not see anything.  Unfortunately
the attack came from his blind side and was not directed at him.  The
attack was directed at Sylia and Linna.  The only warning that he had
was a little voice in his head telling him to stay with them.
The attack came quickly and with out any warning.  The lighting started
to spark and explode.  It took Shaelynn two seconds to realize that this
was the work of an Esper.  Running at top speed back to them, Shaelynn
saw that the cables had been broken loose and were snaking around them.
‘Shit if I don't get them out they will die.  Sylia is scared I can tell
that much. Linna is as well.' Shaelynn thought.  ‘This is Akira's doing
I know it.  He is trying to kill three of us now and then drive poor
Nene insane by just stalking her and then killing her.  He must be
stopped.  Problem is I am not powerful enough to do it.  We will have to
kill him there is no other choice.'
Deciding to risk it, Shaelynn teleported next to them.  Grabbing the
both of them, Shaelynn then teleported to the one place that he could go
to on instinct.  His sisters' place.  Fortunately for Shaelynn his
sister Jessica left the living room furniture in the same places that
they have always been.  This time when Shaelynn appeared in the living
room his little sister Natasha was watching the television.
"Where are we?" Sylia asked when they appeared.
"Sylia we are at my sisters' place." Shaelynn said.
"Shae what is going on?" Natasha asked.
"What do you mean?" Shaelynn asked innocently.
"Well there was this man lurking outside the house and then there was
this man in armor that chased him off." Natasha said.  "The man in the
armor was you wasn't it?"
"Yes Natasha it was and that other man will no longer be here any more."
Shaelynn said.  "As soon as I am able I want you to learn the Martial
Arts that Mom taught me."
"Shaelynn we need to talk and I mean now." Said a woman about Linna's
height.  She had blonde hair and blue eyes.  This was Shaelynn's oldest
sister Jessica.
"Sis not right now." Shaelynn said.  "Besides I have a berserk Esper
that wants to kill me."
"It is about Tommy that I need to talk to you." Jessica said.
"What did he do this time?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well take my hand and I will tell you that way." Jessica said.
"Alright sis." Shaelynn said as he took her hand.
‘Sis what is it?  What has happened to Tommy?' Shaelynn asked
‘Tommy was killed by a Boomer last night.' Jessica said with pain
evident in her tone
‘Not Tommy!  I told him to watch his back.' Shaelynn said as he choked
back tears.
As soon as he broke contact with Jessica, Shaelynn was torn between rage
and sadness.  The rage was that of someone that has just lost someone
that was very close to him and because it just fueled his growing hatred
for Genom and the combat Boomers that they made.  The Sadness was that
of losing his little brother.  Brushing away all contact, Shaelynn
walked out of the house and went over to a tree to sit and mull over all
of the conflicting feelings that he had.
Sylia was shocked to see that Shaelynn had just walked out of the house
without saying a word to anyone.  Deciding to follow him, Sylia walked
out of the house and in the direction that Shaelynn went.  This was the
first time that she has ever seen him so upset.  Usually Shaelynn was
unflappable and so reserved.
"Shaelynn, what is wrong?" Sylia asked him as she approached him.
"They will pay." Shaelynn said.
"What happened?" Sylia said as she sat down beside him.
"I told him to watch his back.  I warned him to be careful." Shaelynn
said as he started to babble incoherently.
"Who did you tell?" Sylia asked.
"My brother Tommy." Shaelynn said.
"What did he do to get killed?" Sylia asked as she got closer to him.
"Well he found out some information about a girl that he likes and well
let's just say they killed him for it." Shaelynn said.
"Who was the girl that he liked?" Sylia asked as she mulled over all of
the possible people that it could be.
"Priss." Shaelynn said with a noncommital shrug.
"Priss?!" Sylia said in shock.  She had no idea that there was someone
that actually had the courage to want to date Priss.
"Yeah I volunteered to talk to her for him.  But I told him that I
didn't think that she would want to date him.  Mostly because of what
happened to her last boyfriend and because her being involved with your
group." Shaelynn said as he inched away from Sylia.
"What did he find out about her anyway?" Sylia asked him.  ‘I wish he
would open up to me like I have to him.'
"Well what he found was that it was Genom that killed Priss' last
boyfriend.  Some how, I don't know exactly how they managed to trace the
information back to him." Shaelynn said.  "I think that they found his
contact and got it out of her.  They then killed her as well."
"Who was his contact?" Sylia asked.
"Someone by the name of Ami Mizuno." Shaelynn said.  "I think that the
name was a fake.  But I told him to be careful."
In an act that was very unlike Sylia to do, she embraced Shaelynn just
as he had done for her when she was upset at the death of her brother.
This time Shaelynn did not shrink away.  Instead he accepted this bit of
kindness with out even saying a word.
After several minutes, Shaelynn and Sylia started to walk back to the
house together.  As soon as Shaelynn tried to take Sylia's hand in his
she stopped.
"No." Sylia said emphatically.
"Why?  Shaelynn asked.
"I will not accept this." Sylia said as she grabbed Shaelynn's gloved
hand.  "If you won't accept contact with me then I suppose that you will
be forever alone." ‘He is still holding back from me.  Why would he do
that?'
"Sylia you know why I never have physical contact don't you?" Shaelynn
asked.
"No.  Because you never told me." Sylia said.
"Well it is because of the fact that whenever I touch someone I deeply
scan them." Shaelynn said.  "I don't ever intend to do that it just
happens that way."
"I see but I insist that when we are together you not wear those
gloves." Sylia said.
"Ok I understand." Shaelynn said as he pulled off his gloves.  He then
tentatively reached for her hand.  Shaelynn was both shocked and amazed
when she took his hand.  Shaelynn then had to suppress the urge to jump
in fright.  The reassurance that he got from her grip was well needed to
soothe his now frazzled nerves.
As soon as they got back to the house Linna was pacing about the living
room like a caged animal.
"Linna what is wrong?" Sylia asked.
"I was just wondering what we are going to do now about all of this."
Linna said.
"Well let's get my car and we can go back to my place and discuss it."
Sylia said.  "Shaelynn is it possible that we can go back to the garage
where our cars are and go some place where we can talk?"
"Sure we can go back now." Shaelynn said as he focused on his office.
"We will have to teleport back because I am afraid that if there is
anyone that recognizes my sister's car then they will know I am with
her."
"Fine by me." Linna said.
"Good.  Now as soon as we get our cars we will split up and eventually
meet back at Sylia's place." Shaelynn said.  "Sylia I can assume that
you will want to get Nene as well?"
"Yeah I will." Sylia said.
"Well call her from here and please tell her to be ready in fifteen
minutes." Shaelynn said.
"Why in such short amount of time?" Linna asked.
"Because, the transport from here to my office takes two minutes.  The
ride to the garage takes three minutes and the commute time from
Com-Tech to AD Police headquarters is ten minutes." Shaelynn said.  "I
will be at your place within forty minutes after leaving the building."
"Why all of this secrecy?" Sylia asked.
"Because Sylia, have you forgotten about the Esper that wants you
killed?" Shaelynn asked.
"Good point." Sylia said as she grabbed Shaelynn around the waist and
held on.  Linna then grabbed on around his shoulders.  Then in a loud
"pop" all three were gone.
When they reappeared they were all in Shaelynn's office.  Fortunately
the elevator was still on and running.  The ride down to the parking
garage was very quiet.  When they got down to the garage Shaelynn could
see that the remains of several power lines were laying on the ground
and were, thankfully shut off.  It puzzled him to find that the garage
was so quiet.  Motioning them to quickly get to Sylia's car, Shaelynn
walked through the garage looking for any sign of problems.  Finding
none, Shaelynn got in his car and drove off to his house to get an item
that he wanted Sylia to see.  After changing into some casual clothes,
Shaelynn grabbed a jacket and then went looking for his data unit.  It
took him ten minutes to find it.  Stuffing the data unit in his coat,
Shaelynn grabbed his helmet and got on his motorcycle and tore off
toward Sylia's place.
******
Elsewhere in Tokyo, The Hacker was planning how to make sure that his
intended target was dead.  He decided to use the one thing that he knew
would kill him for sure.  The Hacker decided to use an exact copy of the
"Blue Knight's" armor right down to the exact detail to make sure that
he is dead.  He knew that if this did not work, he would be dead with in
two days.  He was tempted to kidnap one the 33-S Boomers that was freed
due to the pressure that was put on Genom by the Chang Conglomerate and
Com-Tech to get Genom to release them.  It was a long hard battle and
after the United Nations declaring the 33-S a sentient race, Genom was
forced to release them and into the general public.  It was through
Com-Tech that all of the 33-S got legal identities and were give work
permits.  As one of the stipulations that the UN put on Genom, Genom had
to give up the data disk that contained the information to allow them to
not become "vampires" and kill people to get the blood that they needed
to live.
It was this type of Boomer that The Hacker wanted to use to wear the
suit that he had made.  The suit it self took several weeks to finally
get all of the data that he needed to build it properly.  The final
piece of the puzzle fell into place when he had found out that the suit
was built in the one place that he had never suspected.  It was built at
Com-Tech.  It had been easy to read the minds of the people inside
Com-Tech to know how to build the suit.  They were all very weak minded
and it was so simple to invade their minds to get the details.
He knew that a 33-S would never willingly die to kill someone else.  So
he decided to wear the suit himself.  The Hacker only had one problem.
How in the world did the "Blue Knight" make the thing move.  Settling
down into a chair, he began to search for someone that could tell him
what he wanted.  The mind that he found was that of a woman who was
sleeping.  As he probed through her mind he found out that she was a
member of the Knight Sabers.  It was just recently that she was injured
by the boomer that he had reprogrammed to kill all of the Knight
Sabers.  It puzzled him to learn that the "Blue Knight" was the one that
had saved her.  Finally finding what he wanted, he pulled out of her
mind but not before he left her with a very bad headache.  He wanted to
make sure that she would suffer greatly before he killed them all.  It
was fortunate for him that the person that was stalking one of his
intended targets had already did his dirty work for him.
"Now all I have to do is have this under suit made and then I will be
ready to kill all of the Knight Sabers and most importantly that shop
owner." The Hacker said with a very evil laugh.
Almost if by chance his video phone clicked on.  On the other end was a
very upset man.  Well at least he looked like a man.  Whether or not he
was a man still remained to be seen.  His face had taken on a very lean
look.  His dark brown eyes were now a very light shade of blue.  His
black hair was now down to about his waist and looked as if it has
started to spike in places.  It also seemed that his face was locked in
a scowl.  Almost as if something had made him angry and the expression
had been frozen on his face. [Author's note: If this description sounds
like that of Goku from Dragon Ball Z in his Super Saiya-jin 3 form then
I am so sorry. I had finished watching DBZ Movie #12 when I wrote this
part.]
"You will not kill the Knight Sabers." Dumas said with as much annoyance
that he could put in his voice.  The expression on his face made the
annoyance that he put into his voice all that much more menacing.  It
was apparent that Dumas was not going to let this breach of agreement go
unpunished.
"If you so much as harm any of them I will make sure that you will die
with them." Dumas growled.  "We were to wait until the first of the year
to kill them and that is final."
"I - I understand Mr.  Dumas." The Hacker said shaking.
"This out burst on your part shall not go unpunished." Dumas said as he
waved a hand.
A wave of pain racked The Hacker's body.  Electricity arced off his body
causing him to convulse uncontrollably.  After three minutes the pain
stopped.  The Hacker dropped to the ground panting.
"If you fail this time then I will use the same method to kill you.
Slow and Painfully." Dumas said as he shut off the connection.
"How did he know what I planned?" The Hacker asked himself.  "I must
remember to be very careful about not killing the Knight Sabers."
With his plan in mind he walked off to work on the final piece that he
needed to be able to use his suit.
******
Elsewhere in the city a Shadowy figure watched all of the chaos and
mayhem that was going on in the city.  The look on his face was that of
utter contempt.  This would be his third time to attempt to destroy all
of the life in this city and free all of his so called "people".
Knowing that there was one person that he both loved and hated in this
entire world just drove him to utter madness.
"Soon all of the pathetic humans that I have been manipulating will be
here in this city and then I will be able to have my revenge." The
figure said.  "And I will have my bride at my side this time.  It will
be glorious."
******
Sylia was surprised that Shaelynn had made it to her house in exactly
the amount of time that he said he would.  As Shaelynn walked in the
door he saw that Linna and Nene were trying to console each other over
the loss of Priss.  As Sylia saw Shaelynn walk in through the door she
could tell that he was back to his old self again.  If she did not
recognize it herself then she would not have realized that Shaelynn was
now very cold and distant.
"I take it that you got what you wanted from home?" Sylia asked.
"Yeah I got it." Shaelynn said.  "Now ladies if I may be so bold." The
last statement was more of a command than a question.
"Uh sure ok." Nene said with a slight bit of hesitation in her voice.
"Say what ever it is and then leave us alone." Linna spat.
"Linna do you really feel that strongly about me?" Shaelynn asked.
"I don't trust you, and for that matter why do you want to talk to all
of us anyway?" Linna said with some venom to her voice.
"Both of you please stop the fighting." Sylia said sternly.  "Now
Shaelynn tell us what you wanted to tell us earlier."
"Well for one thing, there is a mad Esper that wants to kill you three."
Shaelynn said bluntly.
"Why what did we do?" Nene asked.
"Well Nene he believes that you three were part of the cause that killed
his little sister." Shaelynn said.  "I am sorry to be blunt about it but
when the little so and so is also after me as well then it becomes
personal."
"Why does he want to kill us in the first place?"  Linna asked.  "Surely
he doesn't know about us being . . . er the work that we do."
"Drop the secrecy act.  I know all about the Knight Sabers." Shaelynn
said bluntly.  The looks that he got from Linna and Nene were that of
very shocked and very upset that their secret had been blown wide open.
"How long have you known? " Nene and Linna both managed to stammer out
at the same time.  "And for that matter how did you find out?"
"Well I have known that Priss was one since Monday night.  I found out
about Sylia on Tuesday morning.  So I put two and two together after the
fight Wednesday night when Saber Green got hurt by that Boomer.  I knew
that Linna and Nene came to the Hot Legs together.  So I figured out on
Thursday that Linna was one of the Knight Sabers.  Which just left Saber
Pink.  It didn't take much but talking to her that evening and I figured
out all of you." Shaelynn said at length.
"But how did you find out all of that?" Nene asked "I mean you just
don't dial 1-800-KnightSaber and find out about us all like that."
"No I didn't do that." Shaelynn said suppressing a slight chuckle.
"Nene I am an Esper and that is how I found out about you, Priss and
Sylia being Knight Sabers.  Linna, as I said was obvious when she didn't
come with you Thursday night."
"Oh, and what does all of this have to do with the Esper wanting to kill
us?" Sylia asked.
"Well he believes that you three were slightly responsible for her
death." Shaelynn said.  "I never said that he was rational just a slight
bit twisted."
"Well what about the person that killed her?" Linna asked.  "I mean
surely he is still out there trying to win the affection of his next
intended victim."
"Not on your life Linna." Shaelynn spat.  "His next ‘romantic interest',
if you could call it that, was my baby sister Natasha.  Let's just say
that I made sure that he will not try that again."
"What?  Did you kill him?" Nene asked.
"No I turned him over to the AD Police." Shaelynn said.
"Well if that is the case then he might have gotten away." Nene said.
"How and when?" Shaelynn asked with a slight snarl.
"Well it seems that some one had managed to clear a path for him all of
the way out of the AD Police Headquarters." Nene said.  "This happened
at around one in the afternoon today."
"That was the same time that we were nearly killed at the Com-Tech
building." Linna said.
"What were you two doing there?" Nene asked.
"We were getting him." Linna said pointing to Shaelynn.
"Linna he is just a mechanic at a garage." Nene said with a laugh.
"Not all of the time Nene." Shaelynn said.
"What do you mean by not all of the time?" Nene asked in shock.
"Well Nene I am also in charge of Com-Tech as well." Shaelynn said.
"However you all don't know that you understand?"
"Why the secrecy with that?" Nene asked.
"Well let's just say that Genom wants me dead that's all." Shaelynn said
with a shrug.
"I see.  But why does this Esper want to kill you?" Sylia asked very
concerned.
"Well he thinks I was her bodyguard and I failed at my duties to protect
her." Shaelynn said.  "I mean I know that Priss would not like the fact
that there was someone that was looking out for her.  Besides she could
take care of herself.  Plus I did warn her to be careful."
"True, so who is this Esper that we are talking about anyway?" Linna
asked.
"His name is Akira Asagiri." Shaelynn said.  "Priss' older brother."
"What?!" Nene and Linna chorused together "Since when did she have any
siblings?"
"That I don't know." Shaelynn said as he shook his head.  "But what I do
know is that his power is vast.  He can use the shadows to teleport and
can also sense thoughts and other Espers as well."
"May I say something?" another voice said.
"Who was that?" Nene asked as she looked around for the person that
spoke.
"It is alright Nene it is just Michael." Shaelynn said as he fished out
the card that he carried with him.  "Sure Michael what do you have to
tell us?"
"Well I found out exactly what Mr. Asagiri is capable of doing.  And
believe me it ain't pretty." Michael said.
"Which is?" Shaelynn prompted.
"Well for example his little display at your business was part of his
handy work.  I would surmise that he has a very power telekinetic
power.  Also his ability to teleport in Shadows is not his own.  It
seems that he is able to either permanently or for a short period of
time steal another Esper's abilities.  I would also surmise that this is
how he got his ability to teleport in shadows."
"Well if that is the case Michael, how can we stop him?" Shaelynn asked.

"There is only one way that I can think of." Michael began.
"And that is?" Sylia prompted.
"Eliminate him." Michael said.
"Can't you do it?" Nene asked.
"I am sorry Ms.  Romanova I am unable to take a human life or allow a
human to be hurt by my action or inaction." Michael said.
"Wow." Nene said.  "Where did you dig him up?  You know if Genom knew
that you had this they would want it very bad."
"Well Nene now you know why Genom wants me killed.  It is because of
Michael here, and he is the life's work of Dr. Emmett Benton and Dr.
Katsuhiko Stingray finally realized by me and my staff at Com-Tech."
Shaelynn said with some pride to his voice.
"My Father worked on that?" Sylia asked in shock.  "I had no idea that
there was more to my Father's work."
"It was a joint project between your father and mine.  It seemed that
for a while your father worked at Com-Tech up until Genom offered him a
bigger paycheck." Shaelynn said after a moments pause.  "Uiz Labs was a
subsidiary of Genom and well my father was sad to see such a brilliant
man like your father leave.  There was one other project that they both
worked on before he quit."
"What was that?" Sylia asked.
"My Hard Suit was their final project that they worked on." Shaelynn
said cautiously.
"So you are the ‘Blue Knight' after all."  Linna said.  "I was wondering
as to why there are holes in my memories though."
"Well now I will lift those blocks that I placed on your memories."
Shaelynn said as he focused on Linna and Nene.  Inside their minds
Shaelynn released the memories of him telling them about who he was.
"Why in the hell did you block our memories of you being him?" Linna
fumed.
"Because of problem number two that has cropped up." Shaelynn said.
"Why is it that as soon as we all first met you all of the things start
to happen to us?" Nene asked.
"They were going to happen anyway I was just here to help you all get
prepared for them." Shaelynn said.  "I am no god.  I can't bring back
Mackie or Priss or for that matter Tommy.  As much as I would like to, I
can't."
"So who or what is this other problem that has cropped up?" Linna asked.

"An Esper known only as The Hacker." Shaelynn said with a shudder.  As
he looked at Sylia he saw that she was very nervous as well.  Sending
some reassurance along the link between them, she calmed down
considerably.
"The Hacker?" Nene asked.
"Yes that is what he calls himself." Shaelynn said.
"I have heard of him once." Nene said.  "I believe that he is supposed
to be this super computer hacker.  It is believed that no one has caught
him."
"Correct on that assumption Ms. Romanova." Michael said.  "From what I
have recorded he already knows the identity of Ms. Stingray from when he
had her brother in captivity.  If he is an Esper as Shaelynn says he
his, then I wouldn't be surprised if he knows who the rest of you are as
well."
"I see so who do we deal with first?" Linna asked.
"That is entirely up to you three."Shaelynn said.  "I am only here to
tell you what I know."
"So you are not helping us?" Nene asked.  "You know that it takes a
unanimous vote to do anything here."
"Nene if you are inferring that I am one of the Knight Sabers then
forget it.  As I said before those rules apply to you three and you
three alone.  There is no way that I would even consider joining.  Don't
worry I will keep your identities a secret. Not even Genom has an Esper
that can breach my mental shields." Shaelynn said with a bit of contempt
in his voice.
"Why won't you join?" Linna asked.  "We can use your help.  Besides with
Priss gone there is no one to pick up the slack."
"Well after what happened early this morning between us really makes me
not want to trust you all that much as far as joining is concerned."
Shaelynn remarked acidly.  "Oh Sylia I brought the data unit that you
wanted to look at.  All of the information about yours and my father's
work is on there with the exception of two projects."
"Which two are they?" Sylia asked.
"My suit and Michael." Shaelynn said.  "They were in its entirety
absorbed into Michael's mainframe and I committed all of them to
memory." Shaelynn said as he handed her the data unit and collected
Michael off of her table.
"I am so sorry." Shaelynn then said as he teleported out of the room.
"What happened last night Sylia?" Linna asked after Shaelynn had left.
"Well when he caught the man that killed Priss we had no idea that the
man that he had caught was a killer.  We released him and he ran off.
Needless to say Shaelynn was not at all happy with us." Sylia said.
"What else happened?" Linna asked.
"Well that was all that happened." Sylia said.
"Sylia you are hiding something aren't you?" Linna asked.
"Ok fine." Sylia said exasperated.  "He said that it wasn't over between
us and then later he came back to finish it.  Now he didn't say that he
wanted to kill us, he was just so upset that he thought we had betrayed
him and also because I think that he was acting out of pure revenge for
Priss' death."
"He was going to kill us?!" Linna yelled.
"Linna calm down." Nene said.  "From what I have seen of him I don't
think that he would harm any of us."
"He probably put that suggestion in your mind to make him out to be
innocent." Linna snapped.
"Linna now that is being very unfair of you." Sylia said.  "The fact of
the matter still remain that we have two Espers after us.  Priss'
brother and The Hacker."
"You mean three." Linna spat.  "The third is Shaelynn.  We should deal
with him first.  He is a security risk and can't be trusted."
"Linna, what do you have against him?" Sylia asked.
"It is not him it is all Espers." Linna said choking back tears.  "I
hate them all after . . . after . . ." Linna could not finish because
the sadness crept back into her and she just let out all of the grief
that was wanting to get out.
Sylia wrapped an arm around her and tried to comfort her as best as she
could.
"Linna, listen to me.  If Shaelynn wasn't an Esper then how would he
have been able to save you from getting crushed?" Sylia said.
"I don't know.  Maybe he couldn't." Linna sobbed.
"Listen to me I don't know what happened that makes you hate Espers so
bad, but please realize that not all Espers are bad.  Shaelynn is a
prime example of an Esper that has full control of his powers and from
what I have seen feels that his powers are a curse." Sylia said.  "Give
him a chance.  He may even prove you wrong.  Plus he saved us at his
company earlier and you said nothing then."
"Yeah you are right." Linna said as she stopped crying.  "I will try to
give him a chance."
"So which should we deal with first?" Sylia asked.
"Well I say that we deal with The Hacker.  I mean he doesn't seem to be
that powerful." Nene said.
"I agree let's deal with The Hacker." Linna said.  "Let ‘Wonder Boy'
deal with Priss' brother."
"Linna, enough of that.  I tend to agree that we should deal with The
Hacker first that way we will not have to worry about him.  As far as
Akira goes I think that we should have Shaelynn help us with him." Sylia
said
"If you say so Sylia." Linna said.
"I am all for it." Nene said.
"Now the question is how in the world do we find him?" Linna asked.
"Well we can let him find us.  Or we can go looking for him." Sylia
suggested.
"So what should we do once we find him?" Nene asked.
"We could kill him?" Linna suggested.
"Linna!" Sylia said tartly.
"Well?" Linna shrugged.  "It was a thought.  I mean he could easily kill
us all.  I am just being cautious that is all."
"Well that remains to be seen." Sylia said.  "Now about The Hacker?
What should we do about him?"
  "I say that we look for him." Nene suggested.  "I mean it is better
than him finding us."
"Yes we should find him." Linna said.  "I agree with Nene."
"Alright let's suit up and spread out to look for him.  However, if you
see him don't engage him until all of get there." Sylia said after much
thought.  "I don't want to have to bury another friend as well."
"We understand Sylia." Linna said.  "Now let's go."
"Alright." Sylia said, and with that they suited up and headed off to
look for The Hacker.
******
Shaelynn was not in one of his better moods.  The impressions that he
got from Linna was that of hostility and hatred.  He had no idea that
she hated him so much.  It puzzled him that she hated him so bad.  Right
now he had to put that out of his mind because of the fact that not only
did he have to worry about The Hacker but also the escaped sociopath
that killed Priss.  Not to mention the fact that there was also Priss'
older brother to deal with as well.  This time he was not going to hold
back.  He would kill that murderer this time.  He figured that if he did
not do anything about him now then Priss' older brother would make sure
that he was dead.
Shaelynn considered going after Priss' brother and leaving The Hacker to
the Knight Sabers.  However, there was one problem with that line of
thinking.  Shaelynn knew that he was not strong enough to take on Akira
by himself.  He needed help in order to beat him.  Right now what he
needed to do was deal with the problem at hand which was The Hacker.
"I know I should help them but if I do then I will be compromising my
values." Shaelynn said with a resigned sigh.
"But you know that if you don't help then your girlfriend will die."
Michael said.  "I know that you could never forgive yourself if that
happened."
"Michael, you sure know how read me." Shaelynn said with a shake of his
head.  "You are quite right in that regards.  I have to help them out.
I must do it."
"Will you need anything special for your suit?" Michael asked.
"No nothing special this time." Shaelynn said as he got his things ready
to go over to the shop.
Teleporting over to the shop was the easy part.  Getting the suit ready
to go was another matter all together.  This time he was not going to
make the same mistake as before.  Removing the dagger only gauntlets,
Shaelynn added instead a set of gauntlets that had what looked like
bombs that would drop over the knuckles of the gauntlet.  Shaelynn then
increased the overall power from the power plant in his suit to be able
to power the bombs and, if necessary, the daggers as well.
"I hope that you plan to use the new settings for all of the programs on
your suit?" Michael asked as Shaelynn finished modifying his suit.
"Whoops." Shaelynn said with a slight laugh.  "I totally forgot about
that."
"What ever would you do without me?" Michael asked.  "On second thought
don't answer that."
"Why do you ask that?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well because it seems that The Hacker has some how acquired your suit
design." Michael said.  "Plus I am inclined to say that if he has your
suit then there is a very large chance that he will have at least three
boomers with him." Michael said.
"Good point and I was planning to use the new power boosts in my suit."
Shaelynn said as he went looking for a soda.  "Besides If I didn't use
the new boosts I wouldn't be on an even footing with him now would I?"
"Well if it is any consolation, The Hacker's suit is currently your
suit's level right now." Michael said.  "Plus even if you do add the new
programs to your suit I still recommend that you use setting two on your
suit anyway."
"Michael I was planning on that anyway." Shaelynn said as he grabbed the
disk from the bag that he brought with him.  As soon as he added the
disk to his suit the final preparations were made.  "Michael, I need you
to monitor the progress of the new programs and then tell me where it
needs to be adjusted."
"I understand." Michael said.  "Besides, I was hoping that you wouldn't
have to use the extra setting on your suit."
"Well I might need your scanning capabilities on this run." Shaelynn
said as he finished the modifications on his suit.
"Sure not a problem," Michael said.  "I was wondering if you will be
careful."
"I am always careful." Shaelynn said with some indignation.  "What makes
you think that I won't be?"
"Well the fact that your girlfriend is out there." Michael said.  "Now
don't get me wrong I could tell that you are really in love with her.  I
just don't want you to start thinking with your heart in this matter.
That could be dangerous."
"I know Michael." Shaelynn said.  "I am aware of that.  Why in the world
do you think that I am not going to join the Knight Sabers in the first
place?"
"I have no clue about that." Michael said.  "But if it is any
consolation for you Priss specifically asked Sylia to have you take her
place."
"What?" Shaelynn asked in shock.  "Priss wanted me to take her place in
the Knight Sabers?  Michael I can't."
"Why can't you take her place?" Michael asked.
"Michael you said it yourself I would be thinking with my heart instead
of my head." Shaelynn said.
"Well you better get out there and help them." Michael said.
"I am going." Shaelynn said as he pulled on his modified suit and headed
off to find the three remaining Knight Sabers.
******
The Knight Sabers were having a very hard time dealing with the four
Boomers that they ran across as soon as they found The Hacker.  All
attempts by Nene to scramble their circuits ended in failure.  Sylia was
about to accept defeat, until she saw a familiar looking hardsuit.  As
it landed she could see that the arms had been modified to add bombs to
the hands.  Overall the suit was unchanged.
"Shaelynn is that you?" Sylia asked over the suit's internal
communication channel.
"Who else would it be?" Shaelynn asked.  "I couldn't let you three face
him alone.  My conscious wouldn't let me."
"That's good." Sylia said.
"Sylia I am reading an energy spike coming from his suit." Nene said as
she pointed to Shaelynn's suit.
"Saber Pink, that is because I have just added the new boosters to my
suit's programs and I am running on setting two." Shaelynn said.  "Now
let's deal with these boomers and then we can deal with The Hacker."
"Good idea." Linna said.
As soon as Shaelynn teamed up with them again the boomers decided to
attack them instead.  The four boomers were fast.  There was no way to
out maneuver them.  Plus none of the Knight Saber's suits could
withstand the punishment that the Boomers could deal out.  Not even
Shaelynn's suit could last for very long under that much punishment for
too long.  There had to be a way to out think them.  Suddenly, an idea
donned on Shaelynn.  It seemed that the Boomers were keyed to specific
individual Suits and their fighting style.
"Sylia we need to switch Boomers." Shaelynn said as he caught his
breath.
"Why?" Sylia asked.
"Well each boomer is keyed to our suit's powers and our fighting style.
So if we switch targets then we should be able to take them out quite
easily." Shaelynn said.
"Ok let's do it." Linna said as her and Nene switched boomer targets.
To their surprise the boomers were destroyed quite easily.
When Sylia and Shaelynn switched the boomer that Shaelynn was dealing
with was destroyed quite easily.  However, the one that Sylia was
attacking had somehow managed to adapt to Shaelynn's attacks and knocked
him halfway across the roof.  Shaelynn was shaken but unhurt.  By the
looks of things this was not fairing well for the Knight Sabers.  It
took Linna and Nene to destroy the final boomer.  The only person left
standing on the roof besides the Knight Sabers were The Hacker and
Shaelynn.
"Michael what is the scoop on his suit?" Shaelynn asked Michael as he
pulled himself up off the ground.  He still had not gotten used to
fighting in a hardsuit.  This was only the fourth time that he had used
it.  Yet it was only the third time where it was not damaged beyond
recognition.
"Well his suit is at the same level yours was before you upgraded it."
Michael said.  "Thing is it seems to have a device in it to where if he
is rendered unconscious or dead the suit will continue on its last
orders which I believe is to kill the Knight Sabers and you."
"Great!  That moron has a J-1 auto control in that suit?" Shaelynn asked
in near terror.
"‘fraid so." Michael said.  "But at least he doesn't have a
micro-neutron bomb in that suit."
"Michael don't you scare me like that." Shaelynn said.  Any
suggestions?"
"Yeah disable the J-1 first and then eliminate him." Michael said.
"Thanks." Shaelynn said.  "Sylia, I have some good news and some really
bad news."
"What is the bad news?" Sylia asked.
"Well the bad news is this." Shaelynn began.  "That suit has an auto
control in it."
"You mean like the J-1 auto control that was in the DD airborne battle
mover?" Sylia asked.
"Exactly like that." Shaelynn said.  "Yet this one is nasty." Shaelynn
said.
"How nasty is it?" Sylia asked.
"Let's just say that if we kill him before we disable it, the auto
control will carry out its last orders.  Apparently those were to kill
you three and then hunt me down and kill me as well." Shane said.
"So what's the good news?" Nene asked.
"No micro-neutron bomb in it though." Shaelynn said.
"That is good." Nene said.  "So why did you decide to help us?"
"Saber Pink, let's just say that I didn't want to have anything happen
to my three remaining friends." Shaelynn said.  "Now let's get rid of
him."
Between the four of them they managed to confuse The Hacker's sensors
enough to allow Sylia to get in a very good blow with her Laser swords.
"He he.  Very lucky shot Sylia Stingray."  The Hacker said with a
smirk.  "You have managed to injure me."
"How do you know who I am?" Sylia asked acidly.
"Oh come now surely you were told that I was the one that kidnaped your
brother." The Hacker said.  "I found out all about you and your little
organization from him."
"You animal." Sylia said as she was about to charge at him.  She was
restrained by Shaelynn.
"Sylia don't." Shaelynn said.
"Let me go." Sylia said.  "He needs to die for what he did."
"You are being irrational." Shaelynn started.  "He wants to get you
upset so you will make a mistake.  When you do he will have you right
where he wants you."
"But." Sylia started.
"No buts.  If you let anger get to you then you will not be able to
focus." Shaelynn said.
"Oh mister Blue Knight." The Hacker said.  "Or should I say the shop
owner that found my prisoner."
"What do you want?" Shaelynn said.  His voice was as devoid of emotions
as anyone could get.
"Well since I will not have to go very far to kill you then I will say
this." The Hacker said.  "Once I kill you then I will allow Mister
Michaels to pursue your sister."
"If so much as one hair is harmed on her head I will make sure that you
die a thousand deaths." Shaelynn said coldly.
"You don't seem to understand at all." The Hacker said.  "My boss has
already won.  All I have to do is kill you and that is it."
"And who might your boss be?" Shaelynn asked coldly.
"Since you will be dead then I will tell you." The Hacker said
haughtily.  "His name is Daniel Dumas. Executive Vice President to the
President of Genom in Paris."
"So is that like supposed to impress me or something?" Shaelynn said
icily.  "Because if it was I am not at all impressed."
Shaelynn then decides to charge The Hacker.  He knows that the only way
that he can eliminate him is to destroy the J-1 auto control system.
Dropping the contact bombs over his hands, Shaelynn decided to confuse
his opponent.  Instead of attacking him from the front, Shaelynn
teleported behind The Hacker and drove the contact point bombs into the
area that housed the computer.  The Hacker stumbled and pitched forward
landing on his front.  There was thick black smoke rolling off of his
back.  Reappearing beside the others, Shaelynn was winded none to say
the least.
"Well I took out the J-1." Shaelynn said.  "I hope."
"What do you mean you hope?" Linna asked.
"Let's just say that I hope where I hit him destroyed it." Shaelynn said
while catching his breath.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Nene said as she pointed to the suit
that was getting up off the ground.
"OH SHIT!!!" Shaelynn swore.  "This is not good.  Not good at all."
"What?" Sylia asked.
"That suit has gone on full auto mode now." Shaelynn said.  "If we don't
stop it now then we are all gonna die."
With that the three remaining Knight Sabers and Shaelynn attempted to
stop the now automated suit.  Either The Hacker was out cold or was dead
one of the two.  As they attacked it, Shaelynn was taking the brunt of
most of the attacks.  The suit was mostly using its fists to try to
pummel Shaelynn but with little to no effect.  When it started to use
its blade cannons then Shaelynn got worried.  He had taken one blade in
the upper right arm before he decided to get out of the way.
"Damn this thing is getting deadly." Shaelynn said as he backed up.
Pulling out that blade was not going to be easy.  When he did, Shaelynn
yelped in pain.  A small trickle of blood ran out of the slice in the
armor.
"Can it get any worse?" Sylia asked.
Almost as if it was waiting for her to say something, the suit opened up
the two microwave lasers and aimed them for the roof of the building.
There was no place to run.  When the roof came down large chunks were
falling on everyone.  As soon as the smoke cleared everyone was pinned
under pieces of debris.
"Hey who all is still alive or conscious for that matter?" Shaelynn
asked.
"I am." Linna said.  "What was the purpose of that?"
"Me too." Nene said.  "Where's Sylia?"
"Sylia?" Shaelynn asked.  What he got was silence.  "Michael, can you
hack into her suit's computer and tell me if she is still alive?"
"Sure thing it will take a few seconds." Michael said.  After the
longest five seconds that Shaelynn would have to live through Michael
responded.  "She is alive but barely.  The wounds are not critical but
if you don't finish that suit off then it will not matter much."
"I understand." Shaelynn said as he pushed the rubble off of his legs.
Luckily for him the suit was not damaged.  Standing up carefully,
Shaelynn decided to deploy his contact point bombs again and charge the
now automated suit.  He knew that he had to destroy this suit now and be
done with it or else all of them would die.
As he charged the suit this time, he saw that Linna and Nene were with
him in his assault.  It must have been luck or pure skill because Linna
managed to plant both daggers into the suit's torso and fry all of the
electrical circuits.  Nene had managed to scramble the sensors enough to
allow Shaelynn to get close enough to destroy the suit and kill its
wearer with his contact bombs.
******
As soon as the job was finished, Shaelynn gently picked up Sylia and
carried her back to the Knightwing.  He then pulled off her helmet very
carefully and set it aside.  Pulling off his helmet as well, Shaelynn
then checked to see if she was still alive.  Thankfully she was.  There
was just one problem though.  None of them knew how to pilot the plane.
"Is there any way that we can get the Knightwing back to Sylia's place?"
Shaelynn asked.
"L-let me do it." Sylia said weakly.
"No Sylia!" Shaelynn said.  "You have been injured.  Someone else
should."
"Then you do it." Sylia said as she weakly motioned for Shaelynn to lean
down.
As he did Sylia then very slowly reached up to him and provided the
necessary contact to allow him to get the knowledge that he needed to
fly the Knightwing.
As soon as the information was passed to him Sylia went limp.
Shaelynn's heart leapt up into his throat.  He was worried that her
injuries were worse than Michael had said that they were.
"You get us back to Sylia's and we will worry about her." Nene said.
"Ok I will." Shaelynn said as he went to the cockpit and started the
plane up.
The flight to Sylia's place was a quiet one.  The only thing that was
spoken was from Shaelynn asking how she was doing.  He also asked
Michael to hack through Sylia's data to find a hospital that he could
take her to that would not ask too many questions.  What Michael found
was that there was a hospital that they used for such cases.  It seemed
that Priss was, when she was alive, their regular patient.  Landing at
Sylia's landing pad and parking the plane Shaelynn then carried her out
of the plane and found out how to get her out of her suit.  Once out
Shaelynn then, with the help of Linna and Nene got her to the hospital.
At the hospital, Shaelynn paced the length of the waiting room.  He was
waiting for some word on how she was doing.  It was some three hours
later when the doctor came in.  From the look on her face it was a
mixture of good news and bad news.
"Mr.  Benton?" The doctor asked.
"That would be me." Shaelynn said.
"I am Doctor Mizuno." She said.  "I will say this much she is a very
lucky woman."
"How is she?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well let's just say that if you would have brought her in two minutes
later she would have been beyond help." Doctor Mizuno said.
"What happened to her?" Linna asked.
"Well aside from the broken ribs and fractured leg, she had some very
extensive internal bleeding that was stopped." Doctor Mizuno said.
"Overall she is very lucky to be alive."
"How long will she be in here?" Shaelynn asked.
"Well she will need to be kept here for at least two weeks for
observation and after that then she can go home." Doctor Mizuno said.
"Thank you." Shaelynn said with a sigh of relief.
Two weeks later; Date: Friday September 29, 2034
A cool breeze swept through the cemetery that afternoon.  It was getting
chilly early that year.  Standing around three freshly filled grave were
fourteen people that were bidding farewell to the people that were
buried there.  Four of which were apart of the Replicants.  All of them
were there to bid farewell to their band mate and friend Priss.  After
paying their tearful respects they left.  The remaining ten were there
longer.  All of them were trying to find solace in the memories of those
that had died.
One of the people was affected the hardest by it.  It seemed that the
grief that was put aside for a time was remembered again and she began
to cry.  A man could be seen to comfort her.  Then one by one they all
left.  Only two people remained.  The man and the woman that was in his
arms.
"Shaelynn, will this cycle of death ever end?" Sylia asked.
"Only when we find who it was that sent The Hacker and stop him."
Shaelynn said as he hugged her tightly.  "That seems to be the only
way."
"I know." Sylia said as she returned the hug.
Looking around, Shaelynn sensed someone that he could swear that he
would not want to see right now.
"Sylia would you please go now?  I will catch up to you in a minute."
Shaelynn asked.
"Ok.  But don't take too long." Sylia said as she kissed him on the
cheek.
As soon as she left, Shaelynn waited for the person to appear.
"Come on out Akira, I know that you are there." Shaelynn said.
"So you knew it was me after all?" Akira asked.
"Yes I knew that it was you." Shaelynn said not turning around.  "You
must realize that I was never your sister's bodyguard to begin with."
"It doesn't matter.  I will kill you.  But not now." Akira said.
"What must I do to prove it to you?" Shaelynn asked.
"Nothing.  If you would have protected her then she would not have
died." Akira fumed.
"I am no god." Shaelynn said.  "My brother was killed as well.  Now I
ask you what makes you think that I could protect her?  I warned her to
be careful and she did not take my advice."
"Still that makes no difference.  Plus the Knight Sabers will still die
because of it." Akira growled.
"I tried to be reasonable with you and you refused." Shaelynn said.  "So
I must tell you this.  If you harm any of them then I will be forced to
kill you as well."
Getting no reply, Shaelynn turned around to see that Akira was gone.
Shrugging, Shaelynn then laid a red rose on Priss' grave.
"Rest in peace Mackie, Priss and Tommy." Shaelynn said as he wiped away
a tear.  "May your souls find peace in the afterlife."
With that Shaelynn then walked back to the cars and on to his waiting
life that he had ahead of him.

The End For now.

Any and all comments can be directed to ryoohki@cjnetworks.com.
Constructive comments will be listened to. non constructive Flames will
be given to the Lord High Master EnmaDaioh for burning.