On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, Chris Davies wrote:
Bubblegum Crisis
Best of All the Years II
SYLIA
"Dr. Stingray?"
I blinked. "That is not my name," I said, almost reflexively.
<snip>
"Ms. Stingray should suffice," I interrupted.
Trying to disassociate herself from a title she feels she has not
earned on her own merits I presume?
She made another note. "Very well. Ms. Stingray, with whom would you
consider yourself to be in an intimate relationship?"
LIKE ME, YOU ARE A SUPERIOR BEING --
"Cyberpsychos with God Complexes excuded of course."
"All my friends are dead," I informed her. I did not allow her to see
the grief. If in fact there was any.
She began to make a note ... then paused, and looked up at me. "*ALL*
your friends?"
I nod, once, firmly. Her spirit was gone. That was all that had
mattered.
Is this a poke at Latus?
"My father's final testament to me indicated that he desired that
boomers -- *his* term, not Genom's -- become humanity's friends. I have
striven to bring about his dream." <He did not intend for me to protect
Mackie so that Mackie could bring about his dream. That's ludicrous.>
<shakes head> I continue to have a very hard time reconciling the
perky young Stengovitch from '1996 Chapter' with the Dr Stingray you
constantly hint at in this story.
"I had not given the matter a great deal of thought," I answered
simply. After all, I hadn't.
"Why not?"
<Because I realized that there was no guarantee of the benevolence of
boomers if they were liberated.>
<Because I recognized that it was impossible.>
<Because I knew I couldn't win.>
Depressing summation, but accurate.
Unless of course she did not blow up Genom after being offered
the whole thing on a silver platter (the Old Man's timing bit and the
emotional Tac-Nuke he dropped did not help, but as IC as it was that
counted as a Bonehead Move), but I digress....
"I have one final question, Ms. Stingray. You are aware that you
possess abnormal levels of cybernetic and biological enhancement?"
I stared. "What constitutes a `normal' level of cybernetic or
biological enhancement?"
Something an immortal genius can comprehend 900 years later maybe?
"I ... see," she said, gazing at me oddly. "Very well then. The
orderly should be along shortly to escort you back to your hospital room.
Good day, Ms. Stingray ... it has been an honor."
My brow furrowed as she exited the room. <An honor?>
Of course Sylia-Obasama!!
PRISS
She looked at me for the first time. I could tell she was still
fairly pissed off at me.
As if you blame her?
"When my husband said that he viewed my behaviour towards you as quite
proper, I realized that I had a certain amount of self-evaluation to
embark upon.
"I love the shmuck, but he's an obsessive headcase with no sense
of proportion."
I blinked. "Excuse me? That's --" I caught myself in time, then
glared. "Apology accepted." Something else that she'd said caught up to
me. "Husband? Wait a minute, a few days ago it was fiance --"
It's called coming up for air long enough to summon a sufficently
jaded Justice of the Peace, kid.
I turned back to look at Mercury, who was now regarding me with an
expression that reminded me of a doctor looking at a terminal cancer
patient. "Do you know, I do not think I have *ever* seen Sheila that
angry?" she mused.
"BTW, are you aware that she is easily strong enough to rip Lady
Jupiter in half if she had a mind to?
<snip Priss' description of her sex life>
Rude, crass, vulgar... I think you've got her down pat
She wrote that she let each of
us have one bit of freedom. Linna could chase cute boys to her heart's
content, Nene could scope out as much dirt as she wanted on her lonesome,
and me ... I got to break things.
And then I met Sylvie, and I broke some things I couldn't put back
together.
Dumb-ass way of putting it, but true.
*sniff*
I would've slept with her. Almost did a couple times. But we
couldn't do it at my place (she was worried about her sick little sister)
or hers (ditto)
I see she has yet to fully bend her mind around the entire
Sylvie=Boomer thing.
Her long, aqua-blue hair tumbled down her back, and her cold blue eyes
were gazing daggers at me. It was Lieutenant Ryouko Mizuno, the woman
whom Sheila referred to as her nemesis, and claimed was the biggest
homophobic ego-freak in the Realm's powered armor corps.
"Ah, you remember me," she said quietly. "Good. I was wondering if
you and I could have a few ... words, elsewhere?"
I wonder if Regulation #2 applies here?
SYLIA
Mars was looking at me with a studied neutral expression, but I could
see hints of curiousity about me in her eyes.
~~~~
I assume Sylia-sama warrents the cybereye?
Curiousity ... and
respect. On the other hand, Jupiter was looking at me with thinly
disguised irritation.
Well you were kindasorta indirectly and partially responcible for
her baby getting her heart ripped out and stomped on.
But she ... but I ... but she ... but I ... butshe butI butshe butI
butshebutIbutshebutIbutshebutIbutsheIsheIsheIsheIsheIsheIsheIsheIsheI--
... said and did a rather short-sighted, ill-considered,
and downright stupid things to each other (especially since she bailed
you out of the Tower)?
"You don't understand!" I burst. "It's not just one mistake! It's
*countless* mistakes! How many times have I been on the verge of telling
her, when she's done something to push me away, or I've done something to
push *her* away? How can this be love when we only try to hurt each
other?!"
I dunno, ask this guy named Saotome about his first love ^_-
I closed my eyes, and drew in a long, shuddering breath. "The only
god there ever was died when I was twelve, and I would not wish to see the
heaven he might have created."
It had been dark, and it had hurt. He had said that it was necessary,
and it had hurt. I wanted to die, and it had hurt.
This was more disturbing than it strictly needed to be, I
hope^H^H^H^Hsuspect.
I am beginning to see Gaffney's point about you Davies. I mean
can you not even give people a break retroactively on occasion?
I heard the sound of a visor being lifted. "Your father was not a
god, Sylia. You do him dishonor by thinking of him in that way."
It was a woman's voice.
I opened my eyes to look into the face of the Black Knight Sabre.
To Be Continued
Irrational/Immidiate Reaction: AUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Calmer, more considered reaction: Even money she's either Pluto or
one of Sylia's kids acting as her agent/heir
Summary: Good Job Chris
HTG