***********************************************************************

In her lab, Sylia typed up a few more commands to the equipment that was 
scanning the hand cannon she had picked up that first night.  The 
blue-green 
trimmed battlesuit had dropped it during their duel, and was apparently
unable to retrieve it.  She herself had almost missed it when the ADP 
aerodynes showed up.  

The gun itself was heavy, even for a suppourt weapon.  it consisted of a 
single tube containing a plasma generator and discharger, similar to to 
system in Priss' Spike-shooters, but instead of using the plasma as a 
propellant for more conventional ammunition, the plasma itself was 
ejected 
in a white-hot stream that was about as powerful as the guns on the 
Knightwing.  Sylia thought back to the massive guns on the tanks in 
the hidden basement of the Gamecenter and shuddered.  To have that 
kind of weaponry here in MegaTokyo...  

She called up the results of the molecular density test.  The gun itself 
was about as tough as her hardsuit, which helped to explain the lack of 
effectiveness her lasers had on the gun's original owner.  Some of the 
alloys and ceramics used in its construction were simple enough to 
create, 
funny that no one thought of using them before.

A few more commands, and three computer-generated images of their first 
attackers appeared on the screen.  A series of cursors appeared over 
various points on the figures, indicatiors of known or possible weapons 
systems.  The boomerlike robot carried an impressive array of weaponry, 
including lasers, a plasma cannon, and a hyper-extension system built 
into 
the right arm.  The blue-green suit had a laser built into it's arm, a 
missle launcher in each shoulder, and a sword.  A sword that could, and 
did, cut right through her own blade.

Nene was able to access the systems of the red trimmed suit during the 
battle, 
and had downloaded portions of it before he had cut her cable.  Because 
of 
this, Sylia had the best readout of that suit's capabilities straight 
from 
the suit itself, instead of the data she gleaned from the sensors' 
observations.  This suit seemed to be designed for battlefield 
demolitions 
as well as combat, judging from the explosives it carried.  It was also 
armed with a grappling hook and a forearm blade.  There were a few other 
weapons and systems, such as the missle launchers, but the cable had 
been 
cut off before any detailed information could be gathered.  

One thing was lacking though:  Synthesis.  The three attackers were 
comepletely different.  None of them showed many similarities.  For 
example, 
the boomer was possibly stronger than any three of the hardsuits put 
together, but Nene had said she had moved through the red suit's hold 
rather 
easily.  That didn't match up.  

Idly, she scanned throug the readout from the red suit when something 
caught 
her eye.  near the bottom of the first "page," she found a date.  She 
had 
probably dismissed it earlier, since it had seemed unlikely.  But there 
it 
was, a short legal and patent statement.

Patent: Triax Industries.  Dated 2382.

That couldn't be right.  Obviously, that would mean that the suit 
wouldn't 
be built for another 348 years.  She assumed it meant something else, 
but 
filed it away for later consideration, just in case.  She turned her 
attention back to the task at hand, incorporating the technology she had 
into her own hardsuits.  The plasma cannon, in particular, solved one of 
her 
problems easily.  As of lately, Nene had been taking an increasingly 
more 
active role in combat.  Unfortunately, her lasers still only provided 
basic 
protection, and there was the risk that she could get seriouly injured, 
if 
not killed.  She couldn't put stronger lasers into the hardsuit without 
compromising the ECCM and communications systems, so that was out.  Her 
pulse-strikers were powerful enough, but were more of a support weapon, 
used against groups.  Against single opponents, the weapon was less 
effective.  A portable weapon system with an independent power source 
would 
be perfect for her, and could prove useful for the rest of the team as 
well.  

The door beeped, and Mackie entered the lab.  "I'm home, Sis!  Sorry I'm 
late!"

"Good evening, Mackie."  Sylia replied,  "How was the festival?"

"Not quite what I planned."  Mackie answered.  "I was going to ask Nene 
to 
go with me, but apparently her 'little brother'  had the same idea.  
Nene 
ended up going with both of us."  

"Little brother?"  

"Adopted, sort of."  Mackie replied.  "That big black man Priss and 
Linna 
told you about.  He's a pretty nice guy, but I can see that they were 
bad 
influences on each other."  

Sylia raised an eyebrow.  "Jealous?"

"Who, me?"  Mackie said.  "Of course not!"

"I wouldn't get too worried about it."  Sylia reassured.  "Now that 
you're 
here, could you give me a little assistance with these systems 
integrations?  
If we can replicate the external battery packs used by this cannon..."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Aboard the Fantasii, Somewhere in the Megaverse**

The being known as Nova D'rkfir stood floating in meditation.  Around 
him, 
Streams of firey darkness swirled around him.  Nova's eyes snapped open 
as 
he felt a presence approach him.  Some of the streams wove together, 
forming 
a black snakelike spirit that coiled protectively at his feet.  The 
viper 
let out a hiss as a bowl of water on a nearby table erupted, revealing a 
young woman standing on it.  The woman had long black hair that fell 
down 
past her waist, and a robe that resembled a lab coat, with red shoulder 
pads and a short skirt.  On the woman's forehead was a deep blue mark 
that 
resembled a teardrop, with two triangular markings under her eyes.  Nova 
smiled as the black snake lowered its head.  //Hello, Skuld.  What 
brings 
you here?//

Skuld smiled back as she hopped to the floor.  //I discovered some of 
_your_ 
operatives hiding out in one of _our_ worlds, so I came to speak to 
you.//

Nova bowed.  //And?//

//That world is not yours to deal with.  My sisters and I watch over 
that 
part of the Megaverse, you have no right to be here.  By all rights, you 
shouldn't even have found that dimension.//

//Rights have nothing to do with it.//  Nova replied.  //The rules all 
changed when He began the Split, you know that.//

Skuld scowled.  She pulled out her hammer and swung, but Nova parried it 
with a black fire sword.  //We were once good friends, Nova.  Don't make 
me 
turn on you.//

//At the moment, we still don't have to be enemies.// Nova said sadly, 
lowering his arm and extinguishing the blade.  //And I wouldn't have 
found it 
had it not pulled one of my operatives from a portal to there.  There's 
something powerful here that ripped him and his teammates from between 
dimensions and brought him there.  I intend to find out what happened 
and 
make sure it doesn't pose a threat to me.//  He walked over and looked 
the 
young goddess in the eye.  //We're still not all that different, Dear 
Skuld.//

//What makes you say that?  I am nothing like you.//

//Despite our widely varying methods and intentions, we both make 
decisions 
that could turn out detrimental to our causes, but seem correct when we 
make 
them.  Speaking of which, how's Belldandy and that Human of hers?  Or 
Sentarou, for that matter?//

Skuld blushed a little.  //None of your business!  And how did you find 
that 
out, anyway?//

Before Nova could answer, The door opened.  A large birdman with red and 
orange feathers burst into the room.  //My apologies, Lord Nova, but a 
distress call has been picked up from the Charlizon system.  It's 
urgent.//

Nova turned to Skuld.  //When I'm finished in this dimension, we can 
discuss this later.  Until then, I swear not to conquer or otherwise 
take 
over it.//

Skuld nodded and Nova left the room.  Nova's firesnake came up to her, 
and 
she rubbed its head, unaffected by the flames.  //He's always that anal, 
isn't he?//  

The snake looked at her, and Nova's voice came from it.  //I heard that!  
And you really need to work on your follow-though, I barely felt that 
swing.//

Skuld chuckled as the snake slithered after its master.  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Late that night**

I slid a fresh E-clip into my rifle.  As soon as I felt it click into 
place, 
I spun from around the corner and let loose with a three-pulse burst, 
dropping the Wolfen that was harassing my partner.  The catwoman rubbed 
her
shoulder where the wolf-man's laser blast had hit her.  Naturally, she 
was 
uninjured, but it still hurt.  Her tail twitched, and she fell to the 
ground, rolling out of the way of a laser blast.  She blew the 
Khreegor's 
arm off with her own lasers.  

I flashed four fingers, then two, then drew my thumb across my throat 
and 
pointed down a nearby corridor.  the catwoman nodded, and ran down the 
corridor, pulling out her bow and a pair of arrows.  She kicked open a 
door,
startling the two men inside.  The first man fell, two arrows stuck 
through 
his shoulder less than an inch apart. Selene moved swiftly, knocking the 
gun out of the other man's hand.  Her foot lashed out to plant him 
firmly 
into the desk behind him.  By the time he arrived, she had both men tied 
and 
gagged.  

The catwoman smiled and flashed a 'V' sign.  //Too easy!  I didn't even 
have 
to kill them.//

//I should hope not.//  I replied.  I reached into my belt pack and 
pulled 
out a fusion block.  I attached it to the wall and set the timer.  I 
figured 
ten minutes would be enough time.  Out of curiosity, I checked the 
climate 
control systems of the floor.  Sure enough, there was a serious rise in 
temperature in the west wing.  That meant Sis and her friends were 
handling 
their side of the bargian.  I quickly shut off the fire control systems, 
to 
give her a little break.  I also uploaded a small virus into their 
system.  
Not as good as one of _her's_, but it will definitely come as a nasty 
suprise when they start up again.  

Too bad we didn't expect them to be packsitting some Bloodhounds.  Six 
of 
the ugliest specimens of ex-Splugorth Bio-wizardry tore down the wall 
and 
pounced on us.  I found myself trying to prevent one such beast from 
making 
a midnight snack of my arm.  My rifle was lying right next to me... and 
in 
the far corner.  Damn, these buggers got sharp teeth.  *Fine!*  I 
figured, 
*If he wants my arm so bad, he can have it!*  I shoved my arm deep into 
the 
thing's mouth, up to the elbow.  Before it could bite it off, however, I 
showed him one of the standard features of the T-31 Super Trooper:  
Namely, 
laser torches built into the palms.  The beam burned a hole clean out 
the 
back of its head in seconds, and I pushed the carcass off of me.  My 
partner was giving three of them a bad case of "Cat-Scratch Fever," so 
that 
left two for me, and that's just _Prime_.  

No, wait.  That stomping sounds familiar.  Heavy, metallic, squishing 
some 
poor bastard that failed to get out of the way.  Good.  I'll let him 
handle 
these puppies, while I, the one most likely to die in this fight, 
continue 
the mission.  I left quicky to escape the sounds of horrible deaths, 
even 
for Khreegor Bloodhounds.  

{Abort!  Abort!}  The boss' voice echoed in my mind.  I hate it when he 
does 
that.  {Massive negative energy readings headed out way!  They must've 
found us!}  Too late.  They're already here.  They got here before we 
did.
the Imperial legionairres were all part of a set-up.  Someone down there 
has 
a sick sense of humor, because I swear a Zerg Ultralisk just crashed 
into 
the room.  Scratch that, Ultralisks aren't _that_ ugly.  I whipped out 
my 
slicer gun and fired.  Luckily, I was able to put one of its eyes out.  
Kami-Sama, remind me to thank the guy who came up with the idea of a 
shuriken launcher.  But not now.  Now it was time to dodge the large and 
oh-so-sharp blades.  At least this Starcraft reject attacked as slow as 
a 
'real' Ultralisk.

I reached behind my back and pulled out a pair of particle beam rifles, 
feeling that familiar tingle in the back of my head.  Of course, if this 
was anything like an Ultralisk, I'm gonna be needing my extra clips.  
The 
monster opened its mouth, and a thick stream of goo shot out.  I jumped 
back, but a little spattered on the toe of my suit, and began steaming 
as it 
ate its way trough.   I jumped back farther.

The monster charged.  I raised my guns, readied the fusion blocks, and 
armed all my mini-missiles.  when it was about twenty feet away, I 
pulled 
the triggers...

******************************************************************

"Nene!"  

Nene yelped and nearly feel out of her seat.  She recovered and glared 
at 
Linna.  "Why'd you do that?"  

"Five minutes until insertion."  Sylia called from the cockpit of the 
KnightWing.  "Nene' if you're not feeling well, perhaps you should 
monitor 
us from the ship."

"I'm fine."  Nene replied,  "I just spaced out a bit, I'll be okay."  
*What 
was that all about?*  She wondered, *Those weren't _my_ memories.*  

Outside, Mackie pulled close to the Knightwing in his Motoslave.  
"Pyramid's 
coming up, sis!  Get ready!"

"So how, exactly,"  Priss said, "are we doing this again?"

"Basically, we sneak in, find D'rkfir's office, and we have, 'words' 
with 
him, find out what he wants with us, Genom, and MegaTokyo.  The details 
are 
much more complicated, and are unimportant until we get to where 
they'll be needed."  

The KnightWing landed on a building a few blocks away.  Mackie and three 
motoroids touched down as the Knight Sabers exited the jet.  Sylia 
handed 
Priss and Nene each a new laser rifle, and led them to the alley below,
where they come across a manhole.  "You've heard about the 'monster 
attacks' 
in this area over the past week, correct?"

"Yeah,"  Priss replied, but what does that have to do with this?  It has 
to 
mean something, or else you wouldn't have mentioned it."

"The reports from the one survivor,"  Nene answered, "and the autopsies, 
revealed that the monster was a very large, black cat, the size of a 
small 
car.  When I introduced Damien and Edge to you, there was a black cat 
the 
size of a small car in their van.  Damien said it belonged to his boss."  

"Apparently," Sylia continued, "either he's been letting it out, or it's 
been escaping to hunt down gangs, cyberpunks, and other 'street trash'.  
This area's been deserted since the attacks begin."  She touched a wall,
drawing their attention to a set of claw marks.  There was still a bit 
of 
blood where the ground touched the wall.  "It probably enters and leaves 
the city from somewhere in this area."

"So you're telling us,"  Linna said, "that we not only have to worry 
about 
sneaking in through the sewers, but we also might have to avoid Tora's 
big 
sister?"

"Just don't step on her tail."  Nene quipped.

Priss examined the rifle Sylia gave her.  "What's with the extra 
firearms?"  
Her rifle was slightly larger than the heavy rifles used by the ADP, but 
with a single laser lens an inch short of the barrel tip.  Nene's was 
smaller and a little bulkier, like a very large pistol or submachine 
gun.  

"Protection, what else?"  

Priss could have sworn she felt a smile under Sylia's helmet.  She 
shrugged 
and shouldered her rifle as she jumped down into the manhole.  Linna, 
Sylia 
and Nene followed.  

"Right now,"  Linna said as she peered down one of the tunnels, "I'm 
glad to 
be wearing this helmet.  It must stink down here!"

"Wait until this is over, and we have to take the suits off."  Nene 
answered, 
"I just hope we're not down here too 
long."

Priss suddenly stopped as a large feline shadow appeared on the wall 
ahead.  
She raised her rifle as Linna moved to a spot from which she could 
clearly 
attack.  Nene crouched as Sylia lined up a clear shot.  The creature 
rounded
the corner to reveal...

A small brown and white cat.  "Meow?"

If physics had allowed it, the Knight Sabers would've facefaulted.  
Priss 
lowered her rifle.  "A kitten?  How did that get down here?"  The kitten 
rubbed against her leg and purred.  Even in its feral, bedraggled state, 
it 
was incredibly adorable.

"Kawaii!"  Nene cooed.  Too bad they were on a mission, or she would've 
taken it straight home and given it a bath.  She reached down to pet it, 
but 
it ran off down another tunnel.  Sylia shrugged, and the Knight Sabers
continued on their way.  

Back at the tunnel intersection, the kitten watched them turn the 
corner.  
It hopped on a piece of floating junk, and bounded across to the other 
side.
There, it began to grow to enourmous proportions as its fur turned 
black.  

Selene continued, transforming to her monster form as she dropped the 
spell.  
She opened a hidden panel, revealing a comm phone.  Edge's face appeared 
oncreen.  //Tell Lucky he was right again.// Selene reported.  //They're 
in 
the sewers, like he said.//  

//Thanks, Selene.// Edge replied,  //We're ready.  You better return 
before you need another bath.//

Selene wrinkled her nose.  //You think it's bad for you?  My sense of 
smell 
is much more acute than yours.//  She closed the panel, and silently 
stalked
after the Knight Sabers.

************************************************************

the Sabers came across a grate in the wall that appeared to have been 
ripped 
open from the inside.  They stepped through the large opening and 
climped up 
a ladder to an abandoned subway tunnel  At the end of the tunnel was a 
set 
of heavy steel doors, closing it off.  Linna noticed another rippped 
grating, 
and they went in.  On the other side of the doors was what looked like a 
deserted labratory.  Several small flames burned from small piles 
scattered
across the wet floor.  

"Looks like some people lived here not too long ago..."  Priss said as 
she 
looked at the piles of rags littering the floor.

"Maybe the panther scared them off?"  Nene offered.

"Or ate them."  Linna added.  

Nene blanched behind her helmet.  "Ewwwww!"

In an instant, all the small flames in the area suddenly erupted in 
raging 
fires.  The fire spread across the wet floor, Which Sylia realized was 
fuel 
for the flames.  Thankfully, the fires weren't too hot.  On the other 
side 
of the lab, a trio of horsemen stood amongst the flames.  The two on the 
side looked like a pair of knights riding astride a pair of robotic or 
boomer horses.  The one in the middle was a centaur-like mecha.  On its 
horse-shoulders were mounted a pair of large guns, a twin barreled gun 
on 
the left shoulder, and a triple-barreled weapon on the right.  The chest 
of 
the humanoid torso had a sylized falcon head, and its silvery armor 
shone 
orange in the blazing fire.  All three of them carried lances, and the 
centaur also carried a long, narrow shield that resembed a shark.  

Nene scanned the horsemen.  "The two on the sides are boomers.  The 
third 
one is a powersuit or battlemover of some kind.  Be careful, they're 
armed!"

The Boomer-Knights charged as the centaur fired.  The left gun spat out 
dozens of rounds that tore through the machinery around them.  Nene was 
knocked to the ground as a nearby console exploded.  A pair of hands 
grabbed
her and helped her to her feet.  She looked up, and came face-to-sensor 
with 
Red.  She got a sudden impression of a wide grin behind his helmet.  Red 
quickly side-kicked her in the stomach, more to push her back than to 
hurt 
her.  She found herself falling down a hidden chute in the wall.  Red 
stepped back, suprised, then jumped down after her.  

The Centaur and the Boomer-knights charged, scattering the other Three 
sabers.
The horsemen turned around, and the boomers charged again as the Centaur 
raised his lance.  A bolt of energy flew down the length of the weapon 
and
shot out of the tip, hitting Priss in the shoulder.  Linna ran forward, 
leaping high into the air towards the Centaur, flaring her thrusters 
occasionally to adjust her arc and spoil his aim.  She threw out her 
daggers,
but he ducked, only catching one in the shoulder.  Continuing on her 
decent, 
she kicked him hard in the head as she retracted the daggers.  The 
Centaur 
stumbled back, shaking his head to clear it.  

One of the knights charged Sylia, but she jumped over it and shot it 
three
times in the back.  the boomer fell off its horse, but got up and turned 
to 
face her.  It burst out of it's armor, revealing a modified 55c combat 
boomer.
Sylia leapt at the boomer, aiming for its head with her Knuckle Bomber.  
The
boomer sidestepped the attack and kicked her in the stomach.  Sylia 
grabbed 
its leg and pulled it off balance, then sliced its head open with her 
blade 
before drilling it through the chest with her lasers.  

Priss sidestepped the Second Knight-Boomer's lance thrust, and grabbed 
the 
weapon.  She pulled, yanking the rider off.  she spun the lance in her 
hands 
and impaled the boomer through the head.  She heard a snarl behind her, 
and
turned to face the raptor.  The creature's rider carried a large halberd 
in 
her hands, connected to a small backpack by a pair of cords leading from 
the 
butt of the shaft.  Priss jumped back from a swing that would have taken 
her
head off, had she been still standing there.  She flipped back, and 
fired at 
them with her rifle.  

Angela blocked the first shot with her halberd, but the second got 
through, 
jarring her almost off of Sangre.  The blue Saber fired again, but 
Sangre 
ducked, letting the shots go above her head.  Sangre pounced, and Angela 
pressed the attack.  

Linna leaped forward, throwing out her Wire-Daggers.  The Centaur 
blocked 
the daggers with his shield, and swung his lance.  Linna was caught on 
the 
way down, and was knocked away.  She rolled to the side as a laser blast 
blew up the ground where she was.  She moved, trying to slice off his 
forelegs, but he reared back, evading the attack, and kicked her back.  
Stars exploded in her vision as the metal hoof slammed against her head.  

Sylia jumped in from behind, cutting into the massive shoulder guards.  
The 
centaur swung around with his lance, and she jumped back.  He was 
expecting 
this, however, and fired at her, trap-shooting her out of the air.  
Sylia 
fell hard to the ground, a little stunned, but alive.  

Linna helped Sylia to her feet.  "Why is it," she complained, "that I 
always end up fighting someone who double-teams us by himself!"  The 
centaur 
raised his shield, and the covers popped off to reveal a LARGE missle.  
They jumped away as the missle shot forward, blowing away the fires and 
turning a good portion of the lab floor into a crater.  Smoke filled the 
room.  

When the smoke cleared, the Sabers' opponents were gone.  The three 
hardsuited vigilantes looked around.  

"Oh no!"  Linna cried,  "Where's Nene?"

**********************************************************

Nene stumbled back from a blade swipe from her opponent.  She raised her 
gun and fired, but the shot went wide.  She ducked another attack, and 
managed to trip Red.  Red shook his head, as if to clear it, and 
attacked 
again.  Nene easily sidestepped the attack, but her kick was blocked 
almost 
before she made it.  The whole fight had gone like this:  Sometimes they 
would trade attacks like masters, other times they seemed just barely 
able 
to get their moves right.  

Damien growled.  *What's wrong with me?  I know I'm better than this!*  
He 
stepped inside her guard and knocked the gun out of her hand.  The Saber 
jumped back, firing with her arm lasers.  Damien jumped back, avoiding 
the 
shots, but whenever he tried to attack, she seemed to have a barrage of 
laser fire waiting for him.

Nene continued firing, trying to tire him out.  *I could get him with my 
lasers, but they're too weak!  Hold _still_, you jerk!*  Frustrated, the 
Pulse-Strikers on her shoulders snapped up, and she fired.  

Damien skipped away from another burst, but he stumbled on a loose tile 
in 
the darkness.  The electronic wave washed over him, slamming him through 
a 
pillar.  As he tried to get up, his suit started screaming warnings at
him.  The three MAE-3 hand charges attached to his suit had been 
activated!  
Before he could react, all three charges blew inward, nearly blowing his 
body apart.  He collapsed to the floor as a purple haze overtook him, 
and
he sliped into darkness.  

Nene watched in horror as a series of explosions blew out of Red's chest 
and abdomen.  He collapsed to the ground, a pool of blood rapidly 
spreading.  
"Oh, Kami-sama... I killed him!"  A sharp pain stabbed in her chest, and 
she 
fell to her knees.  She had killed sombody.  Nene removed her helmet, 
not 
caring who saw her, and began to weep.  

As she cried, a sound behind her caught her attention.  A low, 
animalistic 
growl.  She turned around to see Reds shattered body rise to its feet.  
The 
helmet had fallen off, but she couldn't see his face.  His eyes opened, 
and 
Nene found herself trapped by the glowing purple orbs.  Red pounced at 
her, 
faster that her eyes could follow, and grabbed her.  With his bare 
hands, he 
tore off the armor of her suit protecting her neck and chest, and she 
got an 
impression of flashing blue fangs before they sank into her throat.  Her 
world disappeared in a purple and white haze as fire flowed through her 
veins.  

==================================================================

Man, don't you just hate endings like this?  Sorry, but I've been 
building to this point, so hopefully chap. 3 won't be too long in 
coming.  

So what's up with Nova and Skuld?  You'll just have to wait and see.  

(1)  Yes, these are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  The Horsemen 
are
Ultra-Powerful demonic entities that were brought to Rift's earth by the 
monster-run Phoenix Empire in Africa.  Several warriors and heroes from 
North America and Europe traveled to Africa to find and destroy them 
before 
they could find each other and merge, forming a creature that would 
cause 
the destruction of _all_ life on Rifts Earth, then spread destruction 
across the Megaverse.  For more information, see Rifts World Book 4:  
Africa.

(2)  A gratuitous refrence to the BGC one-shot; "Retribution" by Marco 
De 
La Cruz.  In it, Nene won a bet with Priss, so they switched bikes for a 
month.  If you want to know what the bet was, and how Nene won it, find 
and 
check it out for yourself.  



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