A sequel to "Little Girl Lost"

Fall From Grace

Part 2

A Bubblegum Crisis/ Forever Knight Crossover
By Shehulk (shehulk@neocomm.net)


        The night was cool and crisp, the lingering scent of last night's rain
only enhancing this starry fall evening. A faint chill touched the air as
couples strolled through the park, taking advantage of the pause between
storms. The weather stations were forecasting more rain and thunderstorms for
the next several days and MegaTokyo was beginning to feel a little soggy. 
        
        A sudden breeze swept through the park, making everyone shiver. A
not so
subtle reminder that October was waning and November would be bringing even
harsher winds. LaCroix watched from the deep shadows of a stand of trees as
another couple walked past. He turned to his companion with a raised brow.
"Well?"

        She shrugged and waved a hand. "Not yet," She eyed the star-filled sky
with disgust. She was tired of seeing it. The previous nights had suited her
mood much better. It seemed harder to be callous on that which she would have
described in the past as a beautiful night. The snicker that escaped was
bitter. Yes. It was a night for lovers. The couple was disappearing around the
corner when the wild rage escaped her grasp.

        LaCroix was startled by her sudden lunge and watched in surprise as she
overtook her prey. She wrapped either hand around their throats and swept them
into the bushes. LaCroix followed, somewhat relieved that there had been no one
near. Still, the move had been risky. 

        The girl was huddled against a tree, her eyes shocked as she
watched her
lover in the arms of this strange woman. LaCroix sighed and shook his head.
"You're letting your anger make you incautious. That is a habit you can ill
afford."

        The boy dropped to the ground and she wiped the blood from her lips. A
startled whimper escaped the terrified girl and then she was up and running.
LaCroix scowled and stopped her. 

        With disgust he let the drained body fall and turned to find her
laughing at him. "You are a fool! You treat this too lightly!"

        "But Lucian, wasn't it you who assured me that this was the most
'delicious of games'?" Her expression was playful, but her eyes were cold. "If
you don't want to play with me anymore, then simply go away."

        With that she tossed her head and flew into the night. LaCroix
stared at
the bodies and knew that, despite everything that was urging him never to see
her again, he would. It was all too fascinating, watching one so pure fall so
completely into the dark.



        Sylia rubbed her eyes and wondered when she had lost sight of her
ideals. When had she forgotten that she wanted to protect those weaker than
herself? To be the champion of those who could not defend themselves? A sigh of
self-disgust escaped her. When had she forgotten to care? 

        The slight knock brought her out of her musings and she looked up to
find Nene standing in the doorway of her office. She said nothing, knowing that
the others had probably filled her in already. Sylia braced herself for Nene's
barrage.

        Nene took in the fatigue in Sylia�s face and decided that now was not
the time to ask questions. "You want to go get something to drink?"


        The Raven was dark and crowded, making it easy to disappear into a
corner. Michala still saw them though and was there a moment later with a
bottle and two glasses. The tension in the air was more than apparent and she
left as quickly as she had appeared.

        They sipped and watched the crowd for a time, neither quite knowing
where to begin. 

        Sylia finally broke the silence as she reached for her purse. �Well?� 

        Nene didn�t speak immediately but just watched her withdraw a pack of
cigarettes. The smoke curled into the air between them. �I think that should be
my line.� An arched brow was the only response. Nene shook her head. �Don�t
pretend like you don�t know what I�m talking about. The Ice Queen face might
work with the others, but I know you better.� Her voice held a note of
seriousness that was rarely attributed to Nene.

        �True enough.� Sylia tilted her head and studied her sire. The
degree of
truth was actually rather startling and sometimes Sylia felt exposed by how
well Nene could read her. Nene had been the one to bring Sylia �across� and a
strong link existed between them now. 

The nanotechnology Sylia�s father had implanted in both his children was
responsible. When Nene had drunk from her, she had absorbed some of the
nanobots. Microscopic machines that reproduced themselves and would �upgrade�
and �adapt� their host, these tiny invaders had readily accepted this new
condition of vampirism. Of course, she hadn�t mentioned this to Nene.

�I may have been too�..rigid, last night.� Nene�s derisive snort caused Sylia
to frown. Admitting that she might have been wrong was hard enough. �All right.
I shouldn�t have pushed Linna.�

Nene sighed and shook her head. �Nope. That probably wasn�t the best move under
the circumstances. Linna hasn�t adjusted to this the way we have. Even Priss is
handling this better than her.� As if conjured by her words, Priss and her band
took the stage. Music rolled out into thunderous applause and was sent back
magnified a hundred-fold. 

By unspoken agreement, their conversation was halted until they reached
outside. Emerging into the damp night, they began to stroll towards the park.
As they got closer, the scarcest whisper of police radios could be heard. Nene
turned to Sylia, but she was already moving.

A large crowd had gathered around the police barricades and it was remarkably
easy to slip into the mass and observe. Two shrouded figures lay ominously
still on the small trail that twisted its way through the park. The smell of
blood was in the air, but not enough. Not enough for a �normal� murder. Already
there were whispers racing through the onlookers: vampire.

Nene opened her senses to her surroundings but found no vampires. Whoever had
done this was gone. �He didn�t hang around.� Her voice was pitched for only
Sylia�s ears. Sylia shook her head and motioned for quiet. She could barely
hear what the detective across the murmuring crowd was saying, but what she did
catch was enough. She looked at Nene pensively. �I know now.�

Nene�s eyes widened. �You know?�

She caught Nene�s arm. �Let�s go.�

They turned to go and found themselves face to face with Linna. She seemed as
surprised as they were. 

An awkward moment of silenced followed. Linna shook her head suddenly, her
smile rueful. �I was wondering if we could talk?� 



The star lit sky felt very close from the top of the Lady 633 building, but it
was wasted on the current occupants of the roof. Grim faces and stubborn
silences weren�t going to get them anywhere, Nene thought in disgust. She
looked from Sylia to Linna, then back again. �I think you guys need to clear
the air, so I�m going to take a little joy ride. I�ll be back a little later,
OK?� Before they could protest, she was gone. 

She would deal with Nene later. Right now, she had a more unpleasant task
ahead. Sylia raised her chin and prepared for battle, or in this case, to
apologize. �I�m sorry about last night.� She at least had the pleasure of
watching Linna�s jaw drop open. Feeling a little better, she continued, �I
never meant to give you the impression that you aren�t a valued member of this
team, Linna.�

Will wonders never cease? Nevertheless, as rare as it was for Sylia to
apologize, it still didn�t resolve the problem. Linna shook her head. �It�s not
an impression, Sylia. We aren�t the Knight Sabers anymore. We no longer have a
united goal and you can�t pretend otherwise.�

Had she really been that distant? She must have or she would have realized what
was happening sooner. Sylia chided herself again and realized that she was
going to have to level with Linna. �I think I owe you another apology.� No,
that still wasn�t enough. �I should have treated you and the others as equals
and I didn�t.� Linna looked confused. Sylia didn�t blame her. She wasn�t making
much sense. �We are still a team, I just haven�t been acting like it. The goal
has always been to bring down Genom, but it has also become to protect innocent
people from being hurt by the darkness that we now know is out there.�

�You mean from creatures like us?� Linna�s question was softly spoken as if
something might shatter if she spoke it too loud.

�Yes. I had hoped that by securing a strong place within the council that I
could begin to change how the innocents were being treated, but I was wrong.�
Sylia laughed. The sound was hollow and rather sad. That she had misjudged her
ability to maneuver the council was bad enough, but now it seems as if she�d
also been mistaken about how well the others were coping with their new lives.
�It seems to be my night for admitting mistakes.�

�I take it the council is not falling in line with your moral standards?� The
derisive note held a razor like edge and Sylia felt its sting.

She acknowledged the hit with a slight nod of her head. She had been a bit
na�ve but at least she caught it in time. �The council sees mortals as food and
there�s still enough of my humanity left that finds that unacceptable.�

Linna was quiet for a long moment. �You said that our goal was now to protect
them�.how?�

�We become vampire hunters!� The laughing voice came from above them and they
looked up to see Priss and Nene. Priss jumped down from the top of the elevator
shaft with a thud and strode across to join them. Nene followed at a more quiet
pace her expression half-hopeful, half guarded.

�I take it that everything is all right now?� 

Linna hesitated. �Maybe you should explain how we, we vampires, become vampire
hunters?�

�We force them to play by a new rule. At least here in MegaTokyo to begin with.
The Rule: No killing. Somebody dies by vampire then we hunt down the vamp who
did it and take them out.� A gleam was in Sylia�s eye, one that Linna had not
seen in a long time.

The familiar excitement began to thrum along her nerves and Linna laughed.
�Nice rule. Nice plan. But what if they protest?�

Priss punched the palm of her hand. The resulting sound was explosive. �That
would be the second rule: Nobody Objects to the First Rule.� Her bloodthirsty
grin revealed just how much Priss wanted them to object. �Then we get to go
hunting!� 

Sylia smiled involuntarily at Priss� antics but that was pretty much how it
would go. �Yes.�

        It would also help if they had an edge. �It�ll be dawn soon. We should
get inside.�

        As they entered the apartment Sylia headed for the kitchen. �Wait a
moment. I have something for everyone.� She returned with a sliver tray. On it
were a silver goblet and a long knife. She set the tray onto the table and
motioned the others to gather around. 

        �When I was very little, my father gave me several injections. These
contained a technology that he had developed. Nanobots that would alter their
host and improve every aspect of the human condition. When I became a vampire I
quickly realized that the nanobots were quite capable of functioning in this
state.� She was unbuttoning her sleeve and rolling it up as she spoke. �That�s
why I�m stronger and faster than the rest of you.� She picked up the knife.
�However, I can share this part of myself with you. If you will accept it?�
Sylia looked at each of the women and waited.

        <Should I? > She asked herself as she stared at the glimmering blade
Sylia held. <Do I have the right after what I�ve done? > 

        The three women stepped forward as one. 

        Sylia smiled and opened her wrist.



One week later��


LaCroix watched her move around the apartment in puzzlement. Something had
changed and he knew that he was not going to like it. �You seem��..calmer.� 

It came out sounding like an accusation and she laughed at his disgruntled
expression. She was growing to care about him, she realized in surprise. �Sorry
to disappoint you.�

LaCroix frowned slightly. The rumors that he had been hearing�they couldn�t be
true? She was grinning at him as if she found him terribly funny and he blanked
his features. �One wonders what has wrought this change? It must have been
something very extraordinary indeed.�

�Was that supposed to be a subtle probe? I�m afraid it missed.� 

LaCroix was getting impatient with her games. �A clumsy parry, my dear. I think
perhaps I know what this change is.� He reached out and tucked a strand of hair
behind her ear. �One hears rumors in the night, but usually it is better to
ignore them.� Something flickered in her eyes and he knew he was right. �Ahh. I
see.� She stepped back but he followed, backing her into the wall. �They say
you are what you eat�who have you been eating of? Your leader perhaps? What
makes Ms. Stingray so strong, hmmm?� He caught her chin in his hand and turned
her face to the side. �Perhaps I should find out?� 

She was strong but LaCroix had the experience of centuries and she found
herself falling into his gaze. He bent over her throat and quickly pierced the
flesh. Her gasp was half pain, half surprise, but she had to admit to herself
that part of her was excited and she didn�t struggle in his embrace. LaCroix
pulled away after a moment and she surprised both of them by kissing him.  

LaCroix broke the kiss slowly and touched her face. �My, my. You have been
keeping secrets.� He felt the rush of her blood singing through his veins and
laughed. 

Linna caught a drop of blood from his lips and brought it to her own. �Oh, you
have no idea.�


Sylia stood in the shadows outside the window, watching. Now she knew.



Priss shook her head in confusion. �We�re really going to go through with
this?� 

Sylia nodded as she added a wooden stake to the impressive group of weapons.
�If she won�t agree, then yes. I must admit that I�m hoping that this little
display will help her make the right choice.� The long dinning room table was
covered with rows of neatly arranged weapons. The collection ranged from a
medieval broad sword to the most sophisticated assault rifles. 
Priss hefted the broad sword and shot Sylia a look. �This would certainly make
me think twice.�

Nene came in carrying a large ax casually held over one shoulder. The ax was
huge and dwarfed her diminutive frame. Despite herself, Sylia smiled at the
picture she made. �It still seems rather excessive though.�

Priss watched Nene handle the ax with deceptive ease and a thought occurred to
her. �Just a second.� The others turned to her. �We got stronger by drinking
you�re blood, right?� Sylia nodded. �Then why did Nene have to drink again?
She�s the one who made you a vampire.�

Nene answered her. �I think that little ceremony was intended more to bring us
back together as a team. That I had already drunk from Sylia was irrelevant.�
She looked at Sylia for confirmation. �Am I right?�

        Sylia didn�t have a chance to answer. They all felt it when Linna
arrived.

        They met her in the living room. She tossed her coat onto the couch and
smiled at the others. �Hi.�

        Nene smiled at her and bit her lip. �Hi. Uh, we�ve�.been...waiting.�<
Please agree, Linna! >

        Priss spoke softly. �So what�s the plan for this evening? Dinner or
death?� Priss raised the broad sword she�d been leaning on. She ignored Nene�s
whispered admonishment. This was too important for niceties. 

        Linna drew a deep breath. �I don�t understand.�

        Priss snorted inelegantly. �Oh I think you do. We know, Linna.� 
        
        Her face stilled and she stared at her friends, seeing the knowledge on
their faces. �Oh.�

Linna looked at Sylia. �The blood. It didn�t just make us stronger and faster.
It connected us to you, didn�t it?�

 �Yes, it did in a way, but I knew before I shared my blood that you were the
one.� Sylia opened the door to the dinning room and motioned Linna to join her.
The others followed silently.  �I had a report that you had been seen with
LaCroix and then I overhead a description of a possible suspect at the last
crime scene. It was LaCroix, obviously, but they were also speculating that
they�re we�re two killers. So I wasn�t very surprised to find him at your
apartment last night.�

Linna winced and contemplated the weapons. �So what happens now? You seem to
have passed judgment on me. I take it that the execution is next?� She held her
breath as she waited for Sylia to answer. 

�Redemption.�

�Redemption?� Linna�s tone was mocking. �Now how could I redeem myself in your
eyes? Oh wait, let me guess�..keep working for you, perhaps? Fall in line, like
a good little soldier?

�Save lives to atone for your crimes.� Sylia thought for a moment. �You killed
eight-�

�Nine. They never found the other guy.� Linna�s face was emotionless as she
confessed this.

�Nine people. Then it should take no more than nine centuries to make up for
it.�

Linna was nonplused. �Nine�..centuries?�

One dark brow rose in question. �You had something else planned?�

Linna shook her head slowly. �You really think that I�ll agree to this? That
I�ll meekly follow you for the next 900 years!?� Her voice grew louder and Nene
stepped back as the fury blanketed Linna�s face.

�Uh, Linna�� The words died on her lips as Linna glared at her. �Never mind.�

She turned on Sylia. �You are unbelievable! You still don�t get it, do you?
It�s YOU that�s the problem! I don�t answer to you anymore, Sylia.� 

Sylia shook her head sadly. �I�m sorry to hear you say that. Priss.� Linna
turned to find Priss behind her, the broad sword already in motion. She rolled
across the table, grabbing a blade as she passed. Linna gained her feet in time
to see that Priss attacking Sylia, not her. 

Sylia jumped aside as Priss� sword slashed towards her. �You traitor!� 

Priss shrugged. �Linna�s right. You can�t keep using us like your personal
servants. You can�t keep assuming that we�ll just blindly follow your orders.
We do have mind you know.� Priss leaped onto the table, scattering weapons as
she stalked towards Sylia. 

�Nene?� Sylia wasn�t at all sure that Nene would answer her call for help. To
her surprise, she did. 

Nene swung the handle of the ax hard, catching Priss behind the knees. Priss
fell forward and off the table. Linna brought her sword up just in time to
block Sylia�s strike while Nene found herself standing over Priss, her weapon
raised for a killing blow. The sharp clatter of swords meeting rang oddly in
the background and Nene froze, as the world seemed to twist out of focus. It
snapped back and for the first time, she clearly saw what she was doing. �No.�
The word was a whispered denial and she lowered her weapon and backed away from
Priss. Linna, being forced back by Sylia�s advance, bumped into Nene and turned
to defend herself from Nene�s attack. Only it never came.

Nene stared in horror at the weapon in her hands and screamed. The piercing
sound made everyone freeze and Nene dropped the ax with a dull clang. She
looked at Linna. �What are we doing? She grabbed Linna and hugged her tightly,
tears streaming down her face.

Linna stood stiffly at first, but relaxed after a moment. This was Nene after
all. She patted her back as the younger girl continued to cry. The wild turmoil
was calming slowly and she could think again.

 Sylia drew a deep breath and forced herself to step back and drop her weapon.
The urgent need to kill Linna was subsiding but she could feel it lurking
underneath the surface. She ran a shaking hand through her hair.

Priss shook her head in confusion. �What the hell was that? She got to her feet
and tossed her blade onto the table. She reached out to touch Sylia�s arm. �I
was ready to kill you�.what�s gotten into us?� 

Sylia caught her hand and squeezed it, hard. �I don�t know, but I don�t want to
go through that again.�

A low masculine laugh filled the room and they turned to find LaCroix sitting
at the head of the table. His slightly amused expression infuriated Priss.
�Damn! I should have known you were behind this!� She reached for the sword
again, but Linna caught her arm. 

�Wait. Let�s see what he has to say.� Priss scowled, but released her grip on
the weapon.

LaCroix shook his head slowly. �I did nothing, my dear. But I am surprised that
you haven�t figured it out for yourselves yet.�

�Since we haven�t, why don�t you quit playing games and just tell us.� Sylia
issued the demand through clenched teeth, the urge to strike someone almost
overwhelming.

�You keep forgetting that you are no longer human. Things are handled in a
somewhat more primitive manner in our world.� He looked at Sylia. �As a human
you led your little band through a rather democratic process. They made a
conscious decision to follow your leadership, regardless of their true wishes.
Man�s higher intellect conquering his baser instincts.� 

He gestured to Linna with a pale hand. �But you are no longer human and it is
foolish to pretend otherwise. You reject Sylia�s leadership because you
consider yourself her equal, perhaps even her better. Like two wolves fighting
for the right to lead the pack. You snap at each other, feeling out weaknesses
until the time comes when there�s only one way to stop the constant
struggle�..death.�

�If that�s true then why didn�t Nene and I turn on Sylia as well?� Priss spoke
softly, not quite sure she wanted him to answer.

�Oh, you probably would have eventually, but while Linna was making all of the
noise so to speak, there was no need.�

Sylia sighed deeply and rubbed her eyes. She wished that she could laugh in his
face, but it explained too much. Now what? Disban the Sabers? She shook her
head and glanced at the others. �I think we need to talk.� Sylia paused, then
added. �If that�s agreeable to everyone?�

LaCroix smiled slyly. �Oh, I have no objections.�

Linna jerked her head towards the door. �Funny. Now get out.� He rose
gracefully and gave a small bow. Linna watched him leave the room and knew that
she would see him again before sunrise.

The four women looked at each other in silence, wondering where to begin.



Sylia sat motionless in the darkened office, watching the city below. The
Re-structuring of the Knight Sabers had taken several weeks to work out, but it
was finally done. An acceptable power distribution had been set up and everyone
was, if not completely happy, then at least content. The team was still
together, after a fashion, but sides had been taken. Sylia and Nene were now
handling the primary information side of things and Priss and Linna were quite
pleased with their role as the �muscle�. There was an unspoken agreement to
forget about what Linna had done and everyone was trying to overlook the fact
that LaCroix now seemed to be a part of her life. The council was rapidly
concluding that they had underestimated Sylia and the others, but they were
unsure of how to proceed. Sylia knew that there was a confrontation brewing
with them in the future, but there was nothing to be done about it now. They
were all walking a very thin line. 

Things were far from perfect, but Sylia figured that they were as close as they
could get, here in the shadows of MegaTokyo.



Shimai



This story assumes that Vachon, Tracy, Nick and Natalie did not die in Forever
Knight. It also assumes that the nanobot technology described in the Dark Horse
graphic novel is correct.

C&C is welcome, but please be gentle. This is the first thing I've written in
over a year, so I'm a little out of practice.