Hello again!
This is the Fifth chapter of a sequel I am writing. I have to send Chapter 20
of the the first story in this series, "Black Knights, Steel Hearts", to raac,
and will be archived at the raac archive site. Chapter 21 should be done soon
- as long as I don't end up playing the Star Wars: Rebellion Computer Game all
night! I hope to continue these stories under the heading "Bubble Gum
Crucible" (Assuming it hasn't been used already). The third story in the
series, "Storm Warning" is still being written at this time, and is a
BGC/Highlander Crossover. Please read and enjoy!
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Bubble Gum Crisis is copyrighted Artmic Inc. and Youmex, Inc. I am
just borrowing the characters for a little while, and promise not to
bend, fold, or staple them - unless I can come up with a good reason
to do so. I can be contacted at the Email address above. C&C will be
accepted, out and out flames will result in a Boomer or two being sent
after you.
Please, enjoy my take on the Bubble Gum Crisis universe......
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Chapter 5
District 8
Febuary 10, 2036
2:21pm
Few people noticed the van pull to a stop across the street
from the Fu-Shui Nightclub. The outside of the nightclub was
painted in a series of garish blues, yellows, and reds that made
the six story building look like it had a disease of some sort. A
trio of large men in dark suits stood outside the front doors,
watching everything around them.
The van that had stopped across the street was dark green in
color, with tinted windows, and no side door. On the side of the
van, GREEN DRAGON MESSENGER SERVICE was painted in neat white
letters.
A short, broadshouldered man with a graying crewcut emerged
from the van. Dressed in a set of overalls the same color as the
van, the man walked to the rear of the truck and opened the
doors. He pulled out several packages, placed them in a handcart,
and carried them into the office building the van was parked in
front of. Ten minutes later, he emurged with another group of
packages. He stored them in the back of the van, got in, and
drove off.
Sarge didn't say anything until he had turned the corner and
was out of sight of the nightclub. "How did it go, Sir?"
The curtains that seperated the rear of the van from the
driver's compartment opened slightly. The strong, even voice of
Nemesis replied. "The scaning equiptment picked up traces of
several of the more popular illegal drugs. Looks like the fouth
and fifth floors are definitely drug labs. Our infomation is
right on the money."
"And the security setup?"
"Our infomation is right on that score also. The scanners
found twenty three targets in the buildings, and twelve non
targets. Sato is gearing up his defences."
"We expected that. Do we include it in the planned strikes?"
Nemesis was silent for a minute. Then, he nodded. "If I come
down from the roof, and go out the same way. Also, a few well
placed stink and smoke bombs to clear the nightclub, set to go
off just before I hit the roof should clear the place quickly
enough."
Sarge nodded. "I think you should go with a mix of
flachette, smoke and flash bang canisters for the grenade
launcher. Lessen the chances of bystanders getting hit with
shapnal."
"Agreed. But I want the first grenade in each magazine to be
HE, in case I need to make an entrence on my own. I also think we
should go with the flachette rounds for the rail gun, and the
extended magazine. Mount the small flamethower too."
"Got it. What about melee weapons?"
"Vibrosword in the left arm, alongside the grenade launcher.
I shouldn't need anything else."
Sarge made a right turn onto a one way street. "Where to
now, Sir?"
"The old Byjang toy factory over on Hakamma. It's one of
Sato's main weapons storehouses."
Sarge smiled. "I wish I could see Sato's face when he finds
out he's lost several more of his businesses."
Nemesis didn't return the smile. "I want him angry. Angry
men don't think stright."
"Angry men also get careless about who's between them and
their target."
"I know."
********** ********** **********
Silky Doll
Febuary 10, 2036
4:42pm
Sylia was suprised to see Nene walk into the store. Things
had been quiet for over a month, as if there was an unwritten
agreement not to spoil the New Year. There was no Boomer
rampages, or much of anything in the way of jobs for the Knight
Sabers. Fargo had one or two leads, but nothing definate yet.
There were several other customers in the store, so Nene had
to work her way though the displays of lingerie at a sedate pace.
After ten minutes in the store, the last of the customers walked
out of the store, leaving the two of them alone.
"What is it, Nene?" Sylia asked when the redhead approched
the sales counter.
Nene pulled out the computer disk with the data on Nemesis.
"There's a war brewing in MegaToyko, and it could get real
nasty."
Sylia nodded, and called a sales assistant out of the back
to mind the shop. Ten minutes later, in her apartment, she sat on
the couch and listen to Nene fill her in on the attack on the
docks, the speculation on Nemesis, and what happened at the
Italian restarant.
"The word is that the N-Police have already called in all
their personnel, canceled most vacation and personel leave, and
beefed up survailence on several of the high profile businesses
Sato owns," said Nene. "The chief is reluctent to do the same
with the ADP, but he's getting pressure from the top. If Nemesis
hits another of Sato's businesses, the chief will be forced to
put the ADP onto full alert."
Sylia picked up the data disk. "And this is all the data on
Nemesis?"
Nene nodded. "Alan already had most of it. All I had to do
is update it."
"And why did Alan have a copy of this data?"
"You don't trust him?"
"These days, I trust very few people. Alan isn't one of
them."
"I checked the disk before I left work. There's nothing in
there but data. Alan claims that he's an `Infomational packrat'.
He has several disks on the Knight Sabers."
"Very well, I'll look over the data. If you get the chance,
you might want to look over the disks Alan has on the Knight
Sabers."
Nene nodded. "What about Nemesis?"
"I'll have Fargo see if he can dig up something on our man."
"Sylia, what happens if this does turn into a shooting war?
What will the Knight Sabers do?"
Sylia stared out the window. "I don't know. We may just stay
netural."
"I don't know if we should," said Nene slowly. "Innocent
people could get killed."
Sylia nodded. "I know.
********** ********** **********
Priss's trailer
Febuary 10, 2036
6:29pm
Leon slowed his car to a halt several dozen meters from
Priss's trailer. He got out of the car slowly, and walked towards
the trailer. The air was getting colder, and the glance Leon gave
the sky told him there was snow on the way.
<Perfect,> he thought sourly. <The perfect way to wrap up a
lousy day.>
After the meeting with Skeeter, the three of them had riden
back to ADP headquarters. A check on the three names Skeeter gave
them weren't very helpful. Heio Chogomiga was in the hospital,
recovering from a `disagreement' with a client. Gram Narsh had
gone on vacation to the caribbean, and wouldn't be back for
another week. Kelly Gamble was in town, but had gone to ground in
responce to Nemesis's appearence. In short, none of the major
Arms suppliers Skeeter named was accessable. Anderson has stormed
off in anger, leaving Daley and Leon to write up the reports.
The door to the trailer opened when he was about five meters
from the trailer. Priss leaned against the door frame, and looked
at him with an expression of disgust. "Why, Inspector McNichol,"
she said, with a mocking tone of voice. "What brings you down to
this part of town? ADP misplace another Boomer?"
"I was hoping you'd have dinner with me."
Her eyebrows arched in surprise. "What happened, Daley turn
you down again?"
He sighed. "I've had a long and rotten day. I just needed to
turn down by you to make it compleate."
She gave him a thin smile. "We can't have that, can we? All
right, you're on. But I pick the place, and you pay. clear?"
"As long as it's not the most expensive place in town.
Unlike some people, I don't have money to burn."
Priss nodded. "Agreed. Give me ten minutes, and then we'll
go."
She reached for the door to close it, but Leon said, "At
least tell me where we're going first!"
"Oh?" She smiled at him. "First, a dinner at Scirocco's,
then a place over in district eight called the Fu-Shui Night-
club. See you in ten minutes."
Leon stood there for several seconds after Priss closed the
trailer's door, wondering if maybe chasing down combat Boomers
wasn't safer and cheaper.