...and a revised chapter 1...
All comments (and flames) greatfully received.
Cheers
Alex Gray.
E-mail - mailto:hitomi@ndirect.co.uk
WWW home - http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Subway/7630/
===================================================================================================
Chapter One - Control
Location: Japan, Tokyo.
Time: AD: 2029 25 December 12:34
Yuki cried out in shock and pain as Katsumi stabbed the dark weapon into her chest.
Disbelief flashed across her face as she slid to the floor, her legs no longer able to support her
weight.
"Katsu..." she managed to splutter before the cold blackness engulfed her mind.
The others looked on with shock unable to comprehend what Katsumi had just done. After
a stunned moment they rushed forward to where the slumped body of Yuki lay.
"KATSUMI!!" Kiddy yelled in a tone of shocked disbelief. The figure of as her old friend
stood above the corpse of the young woman she had just killed and smiled.
"Hello everyone" she said. "It's been a long time."
"What..." Nami spluttered as she stopped a short distance from Katsumi.
The others in the team stopped just short of Nami. They formed a wary half circle around
the figure that had just performed the unthinkable. They did not know what to do. They could not
think what to do. They could only stand and watch, waiting for someone to wake them up and tell
them it was all a bad dream.
Katsumi watched the circle of her ex-companions for a moment before stepping back from
the body of Yuki. She held out her hands in mock greetings. "Aren't you going to welcome me
back... Nami... Kiddy... It has been well over six months since we last saw each other. Haven't you
missed me?"
"Why..." Kiddy stammered as she raised her graviton to point at the figure standing before
them. "In God's name, why Katsumi..."
The dark eyed woman smiled and said nothing She just watched their reactions as with a
slow deliberate movement she bought the black blade to her lips and licked the remains of Yuki's
blood from it. The unnatural silence that followed this act was broken by a sudden cry of rage from
Kiddy as she fired her graviton at the dark figure. The others were temporary blinded by the light
and concussion of the weapon as it fired at close range. The shock of the energy discharged from
the weapon flew towards the black figure, but almost just as suddenly the beam of destructive
energy was gone... just gone.
"Oh Kiddy..." Katsumi said in a hurt tone. "What did you have to do that for? Someone
might think you did not like me." She gestured and Kiddy was struck by a violent force that threw
her back like a rag doll.
Katsumi took a few steps back and looked at each of her old comrades in turn. "I am so
happy to see you all again. I am only sorry that dear Rally could not join our little reunion; especially
as her little pet will no longer be able to join us. Oh well, we will all have many more exciting
opportunities to reminisce in the near future. I have so much pain and suffering that I want all of you
to experience - especially dearest Rally... However, that will keep for another day. For now I just
want you to know that I am back, and that we all have so much to look forward to..."
She turned and waved her hand back at them. "Janai minaasan..." The black coat she
wore seemed suddenly to be alive and Katsumi melted into the darkness of the Tokyo night.
From the shadowy darkness of one of the surrounding ruined buildings, another dark
robed figure stood intently watching the drama play out on the rubble below. The figure continued to
watch with a dispassionate interest as the remaining women stood shocked for a moment before
rushing to the fallen form of their comrade. They began to mill about with the uncertainty and
indecision that comes with panic. One of the women tried to shake the younger figure on the
ground, as if this act would restore life to the now cooling body. The figure wondered what the
women hoped this would achieve. The female was dead. The figure had felt the energy that these
beings called the soul leave the girl the moment the knife had been pulled out. Indeed, it had been
this soul that the figure on a whim had stopped from escaping into the timeless void to which it had
been destined. It was this energy that the figure now held at its mercy. Perhaps one day it might find
a use for this soul; but then may be not. In the meantime the scene below was of interest enough.
To its slight annoyance the figure could sense that others were also watching the incident
with great excitement. It could feel their joy at the pain and sorrow that these humans felt. Oh - how
that anguish and pain fed them. How they revelled in the feelings that it bought and the anticipation
of so much more to come... The figure dismissed the feelings from its mind. It had long since lost
interest in those that fed on such destructive emotions. If they had tried to interfere with the story
that was unfolding below it would have simply destroyed them. However, these wraiths were
content only with feeding, so they were left to continue their existence.
By now Kiddy had recovered enough to be able to shout through her communicator for
someone, anyone to come and help them. She watched, almost mindlessly, as Nami continued to
shake Yuki's still body calling out her name. Kiddy herself could only feel a numbing coldness that
extended throughout her body. At that moment, the whole of her being felt like the emotionless
cybernetics that made up the majority of her body. She could only watch as what seemed an
eternity later an air ambulance and police support arrived. She operated on automatic pilot as she
responded to the shouts and questions which Rally and others plied at her. Time seemed to have
no meaning as she was bundled into the ambulance and rushed back to the hospital.
The figure in the shadows watched as the last of the vehicles lifted off from the rubble-
strewn ground and vanished high into the murky Tokyo night overhead. The figure's eyes flashed
over those humans still crawling around in the mud after evidence of the incident that had just
happened. It briefly examined each of their futures and pasts, but then dismissed them as being of
no interest. The essence of the younger girl whose scream had originally drawn it to this place was
now the figure's property. It had to decide if anything further was to be gained from this place. It
thought for a moment, worlds of possibilities flooded through its mind as it looked into the myriad
futures that were open to it.
Yes... There was enough potential here of interest to warrant a short game. For the first
time the figure moved from the shadows, and a hand moved up to pull the dark cowl from its face.
The little light that was available lit a deathlessly pale face and insane burning green eyes. Short
fiery red hair framed a fine slightly androgynous face. A face that while human, appeared to have
elements that made it seem, almost but not quite, "otherworldly". The figure shrugged off the rest of
the garment and let it fall to the ground. The form that was revealed was wearing a grey nondescript
coverall that loosely hugged the slender athletic figure. The young girl, for a girl it was, knelt down
and picked the cloak up. Folding it against her she looked up at the murky sky above. If her idea
was going to play out then she would have to make some slight adjustments to the history that she
had just witnessed; then and only then could she take up her planned role. She shrugged,
manipulating the past was just as easy as changing the future, all you needed to do was to select
the direction and then...
Yuki cried out with shock and pain as Katsumi stabbed the dark weapon into her chest.
Disbelief crossed her face as her best friend pulled out the knife and watched with a slight smile as
she slumped to the ground.
"YUKI!!" Nami screamed as Katsumi raised her knife for a second blow. Suddenly the night
was lit up by a blast of energy as Kiddy from somewhere had fired her graviton weapon at Katsumi.
The rush of energy missed Katsumi hitting the rubble on which she was standing. The resulting
explosion caused her to be thrown backwards. Kiddy ran forward, firing the weapon again to cover
Nami as she pulled the unconscious Yuki away from her attempted murderess.
By now Katsumi had managed to recover her balance and with a causal gesture blasted
Kiddy with a rush of power that threw her back. Katsumi held the form of the Demon sword in front
of her and smiled coldly down at her old friends.
"Hello everyone," she said. "Aren't you going to welcome me back? It has been well over
six months since we last met."
"What the hell are you doing!?!" Nami shrieked out, still trying to stop the blood flowing from
Yuki's wounded chest.
"What am I doing?" Katsumi repeated curiously. "I would think that would appear to be
quite obvious. I am trying to kill that whining little brat..."
"That's impossible!" screamed Nami. "Katsumi would never try to kill Yuki!"
"Are you sure..." Katsumi looked down at her. "Are you really that sure?"
"DAMN YOU!" Kiddy suddenly erupted from where she had been thrown and staggering to
her feet tried to level the weapon again at the other woman.
Katsumi lowered the dark blade to her side and sighed. "And here I was just trying to be
friendly... Oh well... We can reschedule his meeting for sometime in the near future, when you are
calmer. Then I can personally show each of you what I have been doing for the last six months.
However, for now..." She began to rise up into the air. "I will bid you good night." She looked down
one last time at the prone form of Yuki.
"Shame..." she commented "now I will have to kill her some other time..." and then she was
gone.
"COME BACK!! COWARD!!!" Kiddy shouted into the night. "COME BACK!!!"
"Kiddy!!" Nami yelled at her. "Get me some help! Yuki has been stabbed!"
"What..." Kiddy suddenly came back to reality. She stabbed at the communicator
embedded in her collar and yelled down instructions to the poor operator at the other end. The
orders for an ambulance, Rally, and whatever else she could think of came out in a garbled stream -
but the operator got the idea. She rushed over to Nami and knelt down beside her.
"How is she?" she asked in a worried voice.
"She will live," Nami said. "However, she is badly wounded. I only hope that the ambulance
gets here soon..."
"It will," Kiddy reassured her. "It has to..."
The girl smiled to herself as she looked down at the new scene as it unfolded below. With a
slight modification the stage was now set for a much more interesting chain of future events. The
death of the human had been altered, and that left open much better possibilities for a more -
personal- involvement. She wondered for a moment if she should do anything about those minor
denizens that these humans called entities. If these children could destroy them on a regular basis
then they were hardly a threat; and these children needed a challenge. Her face suddenly lit up with
an evil grin; she knew the perfect thing. What she wanted was a creature that would be a challenge
to them AND these pathetic entities. She giggled slightly to herself. She was being generous in
teaching these children a vital lesson that would ensure their future survival.
"Yes..." she muttered to herself as she manipulated the future timelines. "Good."
A long time from now, the survival of both races would be threatened by a force that could
only be overcome in one way. These children had to learn that what they narrowly perceived as
Light and Darkness were only that - perceptions. They had to learn that this current multiverse had
tides and currents that were INFINATELY more complex and subtle. Only by reaching beyond their
narrow perceptions did they have a chance of long term survival. The thought made her almost feel
warm. These children should be honoured that a being such as her would take the time to teach
them this painful lesson. May be she considered, she would even regard these children as a pet
project for a while. It would keep her amused for a time; her presence would ensure that none of
those other... gods... would interfere. These children would have a chance to develop and survive.
She felt an excitement build as she began to make plans for the future; it had been a long time
since she had last played parent...
Rally looked worriedly as the nursing staff connected Yuki up to the medical support
equipment surrounding her bed. The doctor who had examined Yuki had assured Rally that the girl
was seriously rather than critically wounded. The doctor had not known the extent of the injuries in
detail. He had only been able to tell her that Yuki would live, and that given time she would heal.
Rally held onto that assurance and wished that it would be true. Yuki was the youngest of her
"children" and she would be damned if she was going to let her die!
The news of Katsumi trying to kill Yuki had come as a shock to nearly all the members of
the AMP. When Kiddy had spluttered out a version of what had happened, the only one who had
not been jumping to their feet had been Rally. She knew that Katsumi, like her father, had a dark
side. Rally had hoped that this bad blood would have remained dormant. However, with the murder
of Roy and the kidnapping of Katsumi by the Lucifer Hawks... Rally was not surprised that under
their manipulation Katsumi had become what she had become.
At first the others had been stunned in disbelief by the news. Only after it had sunk in had
they decided that it could not have possibly been Katsumi. It had to have been some kind of
impostor. It was impossible that Katsumi would try to kill her best friend, wasn't it? Rally kept her
opinions to herself, and focused her attention on Yuki's condition. By now the doctors should at
least have some idea of what was going on.
The door to the small room suddenly jerked open and a pompous looking police surgeon
entered.
"Speak of the devil..." Rally thought to herself as every one suddenly went silent and
focused their attention on him.
"The results of the diagnostics are very encouraging," he said as he looked down at the pad
he held in his hand. "While your officer has a number of serious internal injuries, they not life
threatening. They will however, require extensive generative treatment. She was extremely lucky;
the knife missed her heart by only a fraction of an inch. If she had even twisted during the attack
then she would be dead."
He paused and looked at Rally. "Your officer will be fine. She will need rest and medical
care, but in a month or so she should have fully recovered."
"Thank God," Rally sighed with relief.
"Yes indeed..." the green eyed doctor commented oddly. "Well, I have to return to duty. If
any other information becomes available I will let you know."
"Thank you." Rally looked at him trying to place the reason for the strange comment, but
the doctor just turned and left. Rally looked after him for a moment and frowned before then turning
back to the others; they still had a lot to talk about.
"Katsumi! No!!!" Yuki suddenly awoke from a horrid dream in which her best friend had just
calmly killed her.
"Arghh... I hurt..." She moaned slightly as she tried to move and found herself held down by
some sort of restraint.
"Sushhh..." a voice suddenly whispered out of the shadows. "You are safe, just don't try to
move around too much yet, ok?"
Yuki's eyes blinked and watered as a small light activated. It revealed the figure of a young
red haired girl sitting just slightly opposite her bed. The girl got up and crossed over to stand next to
her.
"How are you feeling?" the girl asked with a slightly concerned look on her face.
"What..." Yuki tried to get her bearings. "Where am I?"
"You're in Tokyo-West general hospital," the girl replied. "Look, I know this must be
confusing for you, but you have been in a coma for almost 3 weeks - ever since the attack..."
"Attack?" Yuki queried. "What attack... Oh my God..." Her face paled as the memory of her
dream came back to her.
"No..." she stammered. "It's not possible, Katsumi..."
"Yes..." the other girl said "I am afraid it is possible. You were attacked and nearly killed by
your old friend just over 3 weeks ago..."
"No!" Yuki tried to sit up. "I don't believe you!"
"Sushh, child..." the girl repeated, and laid a hand on Yuki's chest gently pushing her back.
"What is done is done, no amount of wishing can make it otherwise. You must face the fact, no
matter how hard it is - she tried to kill you."
"Who are you?" Yuki said as the girl smiled reassuringly at her.
"Alexandra Shadow, at your service," the girl said with a comic smile. "I know it's a bit of a
pompous name, so just call me Alex. Everyone else does."
"Why... why are you here?" Yuki asked trying to see who else was present. "Where are the
others?"
"Others?" Alex asked slightly confused. "Oh, you mean Nami and the others. They have
been in and out to check on your progress nearly every day. In fact Nami and Rally were here just
an hour or so ago. They had to leave however to deal with yet another Lucifer Hawk incident. Over
the last few weeks their attacks have been getting bolder. They seem to be getting even more
violent with each passing day..." The girl sighed and broke off. "Don't worry, they should be back in
a few hours time."
"Why are you here?" Yuki repeated, trying to get a bearing on what had happened in the
last few weeks.
"To watch you, and ensure that you are safe," Alex replied, kneeling down to look at Yuki
closely.
Yuki stared at the face of the girl for the first time. She had a strangely pale attractive face.
A face that seemed to be more of an artist's work than a real one. Intense green eyes watched her
with a oddly old and haunted look. Short, fiery red hair hung around the face like a halo. The style
was odd, but Yuki liked it. For her it seemed to highlight the elfin nature of the girl's face. For some
reason Yuki felt her face begin to heat up. She swallowed as her mouth had suddenly become very
dry. Alex tilted her head slightly, and Yuki looked full on into those deep green eyes. They seemed
to draw her somehow... deeper... She felt almost like she was...
Alex blinked and looked at Yuki again. "Are you ok?" she asked. "You are looking at me a
bit strangely."
"What?" Yuki mentally shook herself. "Yes I'm fine. Just trying to absorb what you have told
me..."
"Oh..." the girl said as she positioned herself on the chair next to Yuki. "You had me worried
there for a moment. Look, I know this is a bad time to introduce myself, but you probably have no
idea who I am, or why I am here. About 2 weeks ago your Chief Rally contacted my Master. She
was after someone who would be able to help..."
Yuki lost the rest of the explanation as she lost herself in the girl's soft melodic voice. Her
eyes once again moved to focus on the girl's face. She watched as it shifted and changed as she
spoke. How the eyes seemed to sparkle one moment and then be intense the next. She noticed
how the girl tilted her head when she spoke, causing her hair to fall over the side of her face. For
some reason, Yuki's hands itched with the desire to push that hair back and...
"So that's the end of the tale," Alex said. She sighed, "blame it all on my Master."
Yuki suddenly realised that the other girl has stopped speaking. She jerked her eyes back
up from where they had been threatening to travel and tried to focus. In desperation she grabbed at
the last thing the girl had said.
"Your Master..." Yuki improvised. "What do you mean by Master?"
"Oh, sorry..." the girl replied. "Bad choice of words. Perhaps it would be better to say my
mentor. I am apprenticed to the Master Sorceress Jamie Corin. She was the one who originally
helped to teach Akiro Natsume, Giogelf's teacher. My Master is well over 200 years old now, and I
am the last of her students. She feels responsible for what Giogelf did, when he attracted the
attention of Nemesis to our world. That feeling is why she sent me to try and help."
"You're a Sorceress..." Yuki asked uncertain of what that meant.
"No," Alex replied with a quick shake of her head. "I'm still serving my apprenticeship, but in
time I will take over that title from my Master. For the moment, I am simply an advanced Adept
doing what I can to help."
"Oh..." was all Yuki could think to say. The fact that the girl was some sort of Mage might
explain why to Yuki's yelpher senses the girl was simply not there. The same had happened with
Katsumi at times. It seemed to be some sort of protection derived from their power. Yuki however,
was more concerned with getting herself up to date with what had happened over the last 3 weeks.
"You said that Lucifer Hawk activity has been increasing. Do we know why?" For some
reason Yuki once again found her eyes moving back to stare at the girl. They slowly moved down
the girl's face, down her neck, and onto meticulously examine the rest of her slender form.
"No, not really," Alex commented, leaning back in the chair slightly. "Possibly it has
something to do with Katsumi's reappearance, but then again..." She shrugged, "the Chief does not
really know."
"Oh..." Yuki said as her eyes finished their trip over the younger girl's form. "I..." Her
comment was suddenly interrupted by a series of images and feelings that swamped over her mind.
She drew in a sudden rush of air. The sound caused Alex to jump to her feet.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked pushing her head closer to Yuki. "Is something wrong?"
Yuki looked blankly ahead for a few seconds as the vision passed. When it had faded she
looked up into the concerned face staring down at her. "Yes... I..." She suddenly realised how close
the other girl now was to her. Alex gave off a clean, slightly soapy smell that made Yuki suddenly
think for no reason - how attractive the younger girl was. Her eyes fell back to the girl's face, and
for some reason she felt herself blush.
"Yuki..." Alex put a cool hand on Yuki's forehead. "Are you ok... You seemed to be flushed."
"No!" Yuki squeaked, feeling like she had just been caught with her hands in a cookie jar.
"No. I'm fine." Alex looked at her oddly.
"I'm fine. Really." Yuki emphased as Alex looked unconvinced. "I just had a vision, that's
all."
"A vision?" Alex queried. "Oh yes, that's right, Nami told me that you had an exceptionally
high psi-rating. What did you just see? Is it something..."
She suddenly screamed as the wall behind her exploded, and she was thrown across the
room by the blast. Glass and remains of the far end wall showered the two of them as the dark
figure of the Lucifer Hawk forced its way through the wall that it had just destroyed. It took a
moment for it to adjust to the sudden shock of air that rushed through the room as the differential air
pressures equalised. It steadied itself, and looked across at the forms of the two humans who had
been hurled into the far end of the room by the force of its entrance. It took a moment it to identify
the one that it was after. Something seemed to be confusing its senses, almost like a fog... or a
darkness... The entity focused its singular eyestalk at the red haired human and watched her for a
moment. It lumbered forward into the remains of the room. This female was the source of the
confusion - it wanted a closer look at her
Alex bloody hurt. The impact of the explosion and the result of having being thrown across
the room had done something to her side. She tried to move, but a wash of white-hot agony from
her side caused her to shriek and fallback to the ground. Her senses were still dazed when she was
suddenly hauled up into the air. The pain from her side almost caused her to black out and she
screamed.
The entity held the screaming human girl in its grasp while it examined her. It could not
sense the source of the fog that the human generated. It shook her and listened to the girl's
screams of agony. It could not understand how the girl generated the fog, nor did it have the time to
work it out. It wondered for a moment if it should kill her. This human might be a potential threat. It
thought for a moment - threat or potential ally, it had best leave that decision to others. It tossed the
female aside and turned its attention to the other unconscious human. The oriental looks of her face
told the entity that this was the one it had been ordered to bring back. It considered if it should bring
the other girl, the strange one, along as well. Threat or ally, Maximillian would at the very least be
extremely interested on what this strange girl could do. It decided - both the humans would be
coming with it for a little ride.
Lying where she had been thrown Alex felt a rush of warmth flow through her as her
abused body began to try and heal itself. She managed to look up and saw the looming figure of the
entity move towards Yuki. With a soft cry of pain she just managed to prop herself up on one arm.
Her body cried out in protest, but she raised a hand and gestured at the entity. The movement
caused a fresh flood of agony to erupt from her side. Her control on her power shattered as she
screamed with the pain. As a result of this the power that flowed into the spell she had tried to cast
was far beyond what she had intended. The result was... slightly excessive.
A bolt of black fire smashed into the back of the entity, ripping half of its head off. Hot,
black, viscous ichor sprayed the far wall, as Alex's hastily cast bolt tore through the entity and
impacted against the ceiling. The resulting explosion shattered the floor above as the bolt continued
to travel outwards. Unfortunately, the type of energy that she had mistakenly released grew
exponentially at the more resistance it met. It also had the nasty habit of extremely ageing any
matter it came in contact with. The result of this was that any material thus affected tended to
crumple to dust rather quickly.
Girders, and rubble from the explosion began to fall as the ceiling started to collapse in on
itself. Alex, grasping her side tried to focus her mind. She felt the familiar rush, as her power once
more unconsciously reached forth. The ceiling and the little that remained of the supporting wall
decided at that moment to collapse. Like a house of cards the floor below also began to collapse.
The additional weight and collateral damage started a chain reaction that began to cascade
downwards.
Alex watched from a top of a building some distance away as a great deal of the hospital
shuddered and then slowly began to sink into itself. Her power had transported herself and Yuki to a
safe distance away from the now collapsing hospital. She stood up with only a minor tinge of pain
as the healing process had been virtually completed by the unexpected rush of power she had
unleashed. She knelt down next to Yuki and examined her to see if she was all right. To Alex's
relief, Yuki appeared to be okay. While the girl was bloodied and bruised, it was nothing that
seemed to be serious. Alex raised a hand to Yuki's chest and concentrated for a moment. A faint
green aura radiated from her fingers as she cast a minor healing spell on her companion. Yuki's
complexion improved and her breathing became deeper and more regular as the purifying energy
swept through her. Alex raised her hand and slumped down on the ground exhausted from the
night's activities. She took a moment to recover before forcing her overexcited power back down.
"Fuck... what a night..." she commented to no one in particular. The coldness of the night
wind caused her to shiver slightly as she looked up at the clouds that were being pushed rapidly
across the night sky. She closed her eyes and let the cold wind wash over her. She felt the
adrenaline charged strength begin to fade from her body. Slowly, she began to feel the result of the
nights exertions catch up on her.
Gods... she thought to herself, when Jamie had said this mission would be interesting, she
had bloody well meant it!
Rally looked down at the ruins of what had been the west wing of the Tokyo-West general
hospital. Her half-breed senses could still feel the resonance of the power that had caused the
devastation. It must have been at least a mid-level entity that Alex had tackled; she was still slightly
astonished by the ease with which the child appeared to have fought such a creature. The Lady
Corin had been right when she said the child would indeed be a useful resource. However, some of
her other statements regarding the girl, still left Rally slightly confused as to what her old friend had
meant.
The entrance of Mana broke her train of thought, and she turned to receive what she hoped
would be some good news for a change.
"You were right," Mana simply stated, putting a sheath of reports and other evidence onto
the desk.
"An inside job?" Rally asked for confirmation.
"Yes," Mana replied. "It would appear that the data was stolen during the Lucifer Hawk
incident last night. I would not even put it beyond the realms of possibility that the incident was
staged precisely as a cover."
"Then Nemesis would appear to be very interested in the personal history of our latest
recruit." Rally shrugged. "Well, I supposed it would be inevitable, they know about the rest of us..."
"You misunderstand Chief," Mana broke in. "The evidence seems to suggest that the data
hack was performed by one of our own internal government "security" agencies. It is not Nemesis
which seems to be showing the interest in Lady Corin's student, but someone in our own
government."
"Is that so..." Rally asked with a slight rise in her voice. "That does surprise me. Why would
someone go to all that trouble, just to get hold of data that they should officially already have access
to."
"Maybe they wanted to be sure that they got hold of the real data, and not just what we
would have provided them with" Mana wondered.
"Perhaps..." Rally said unconvinced. "Or perhaps they wanted to make us think that...
Arghh!" she shook her head slightly in an annoyed fashion. "Why do these bureaucrats have to
make life so difficult!"
"I think we may have more to worry about than noisy bureaucrats," Mana said darkly. "What
worries me is why that information was extracted, and any possible connection to the Lucifer Hawk
attack."
"Yes..." Rally turned back from gazing at the dark sky above. "Does Nemesis have agents
in the government or was it simply a wild coincidence? I don't think there is much we can do about
that possibility at the moment. The only thing we can do is wait and allow them to play out their
hand."
"Do you think we should warn Alex?" Mana asked.
"No, I don't think there will be a need for that," Rally replied. "That girl is more than capable
of taking care of herself - as today proved. Who we need to worry most about is Yuki. When Alex
told me what had happened it appeared that the entity was more interested in Yuki than in Alex,
and that concerns me."
"Why?" Mana queried.
"Yuki is the weakest link in our chain. Potentially, her abilities could be as strong as your
own, but they are random, uncontrolled, and that makes her vulnerable. Remember what Katsumi
said; it appears that Yuki is the first of the targets that they intend to take out. She needs to be
protected."
"Who by?" Mana replied. "It's not as if we can spare people to protect her all the time."
"I have a simpler solution in mind," Rally commented. "Alex has already proven herself
capable of dealing with a Lucifer Hawk attack, and I have to find rooms for her. I think it would be
simpler all round if she and Yuki simply shared Yuki's flat. In that way we can keep an eye on both
problems."
"Good idea," Mana nodded. "Lets just hope that whoever is behind this will oblige."
"Oh," Rally smiled with a predatory look on her face. "I am sure that they will..."
"Shit!" Alex swore as she tripped down the short stairway that led down to Labyrinth. With
an indignant cry her suitcase flew from her hand, and she landed. Thump. She unceremoniously
smacked into the door that Yuki held open and took the two of them down. Pants, socks, tee shirts
and other interesting articles gently rained down onto the two girls and onto the pavement.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!!" Alex swore in parallel as she tried to disentangle herself both from Yuki
and the embarrassing position that her face was currently in. After a moment she managed to sit
up, and flashed an apologetic smile at the girl she was still entangled with.
"Sorry..." Alex looked at Yuki. "Sort of slipped there for a moment..."
Yuki took a moment to try and recover herself both from having the wind knocked out of
her, and the strange feeling that had been invoked from where Alex's face had landed. She looked
at the blushing face before her, the pile of mud splattered clothes, and for no reason suddenly burst
out laughing.
"Hey," Alex's face looked hurt at the sight of Yuki's laugher. "That fall hurt."
Yuki burst into further fits of laughter as she saw that look on the younger girl's face. She
rolled backwards, and tears began to roll down her face as she tried to recover her breath.
"You..." she managed to gasp out. "You? look ridiculous... I..." The rest of her statement
was lost in her continuing fit of giggles.
"Fine." Alex said as she managed to unscramble herself, "be like that." She glared once
more at Yuki, then began to try and salvage what was left of her dignity and her now filthy clothing.
Yuki watched Alex from where she was still lying, and then sat up. She continued to tried
and control the fits of mirth that still seemed to want to overwhelm her. She reached forth and
grabbed something frilly which seemed to be on her head. The sight of the lacy underwear that she
grasped in her hand was too much. She collapsed to the floor laughing hysterically.
It was sometime later when Alex looked up from the pile of washing and answered Yuki's
question.
"Yes, I would love some coffee. Thanks."
"Well," Yuki commented with a slight smile, "after your performance a while back I think I
owe you one."
"Don't," Alex placed her hands on her hips, "start with that again."
"Oh," Yuki turned back into the kitchen. She bought her hand to her mouth in an effort to try
and fight down the giggles that almost threatened to start again. "I never said a thing."
"Good," Alex replied. "Just make sure it stays like that."
Yuki did not say anything. She just kept her attention on the task of making the coffee
without trying to laugh. Alex looked at her darkly for a moment, then turned her attention back to the
damn Japanese washing instructions. Finally, among a set of stringed out washing, the two of them
settled down to drink the coffee that Yuki had finished making.
"I don't know how you do it Yuki," Alex said. "But your coffee is always... indescribable."
Yuki smiled at the comment, "just as your acrobatics are..."
"Right," Alex put her coffee down. "I warned you. Now, you are going to - pay!"
The door to the cafee opened and Nami, Lebia and Kiddy walked in. They were confronted
with the sight of two giggling girls rolling about and grappling on the floor.
"Oh..." Nami said, as her face grew red.
The sound of the doorbell ringing caused both heads to shoot up. With a speed that
seemed unnatural the two forms separated and stood up.
"Well..." Kiddy said with a wide grin. "You two seem to be getting to know each other rather
well, eh."
"What?" Yuki spluttered out. "What does that mean??"
"Oh," Kiddy gave her a conspiratorial wink. "It means absolutely nothing at all. Just a
comment."
"Now wait a moment," Alex began as Yuki went bright red. "Just what are you trying to
imply?"
"Nothing, nothing," Kiddy said with a smile as she moved in for the kill. "I just think the two
of you appear to be getting very friendly... What..." The rest of her comment was lost as Yuki threw
the now cold coffee at her face.
For a moment Kiddy stood shocked by the richly smelling, but cold fluid that now leaked
down her face. She looked at Yuki for a moment, and with a "why you..." rushed at her.
Lebia groaned slightly and shook her head in mock disgust as Alex jumped to Yuki's
defence. She knew that it would only be a matter of moments until the inevitable free for all erupted.
She ducked down as a cake sailed passed her head. "Why me?" she bemoaned to herself.
After the others had left the two girls look at the mess that was left behind. It was a
nightmare. Alex looked at Yuki with a pained expression on her face. Yuki looked at her and then
just shrugged. Alex sighed, and the two of them got on with it. Fortunately, Alex was able to remove
the stains of cold coffee from the floor by the use of a simple spell and plenty of water. Yuki, on the
other hand, set about gathering the remains of the cakes that had fallen victim to the ensuing food
fight. So it was that two-exhausted forms slumped into two chairs after the worst of the damage had
been cleared.
"Oh, my back..." Alex complained.
"Your back..." Yuki said. "What about my feet? They are killing me."
"Not as badly as mine are," Alex muttered with a yawn.
"Humph! You can talk!" Yuki said. "This is after all, all your fault!"
"My fault!" Alex gave Yuki a glare. "How did you decide on that? I wasn't the one who
started throwing food around!"
"No," Yuki just said, "that was Nami. You were just the one who started it off by calling her a
demented old maid."
"I didn't!" Alex sat up. "You did that!"
"No I didn't, you did!"
"I..." Alex held up her hands. "Peace! Peace! Any more arguing and we will be cleaning up
the results all night!"
"Alright," Yuki said sitting back down. "A truce. Call it all your fault and it's a truce."
"Wha..." Alex started and then sighed. "Ok, it's all my fault. I admit, I come clean. Now, do
you think we can get some rest. We both have an early shift tomorrow, and I for one have had
enough for just the first day."
"Yes," Yuki said with a smile. "It has been rather an interesting day, considering you just
came here."
"Thanks..." Alex said dryly. "I will try and control myself better in the future. Now, where are
I going to sleep?"
"Oh," Yuki suddenly said. "I forgot."
"Forgot what?" Alex looked at her. "What do you mean - you forgot."
"Ahhh..." Yuki began.
"Yuki," Alex looked at her. "What have you forgotten?"
"I forgot to prepare the spare room," Yuki looked down at floor. "It's still packed with my old
junk. I was going to clean it down today, but events sort of got out of hand."
"Great," Alex commented. "Oh well, I sleep on the sofa then..."
"Ah..." Yuki started.
"What," Alex asked, "is the matter now?"
"The sofa sorted of got covered with a misguided cream cake. I was trying for Kiddy, but..."
"Fantastic," Alex finished. "The perfect end to a perfect day." She looked at Yuki, "I don't
suppose that there is a problem with the floor, is there?"
"Errr..." Yuki pointed to the dripping carpets and rugs, "it might be a bit wet..."
"Yes," Alex said. "It might well be." She looked at the cleaning she had done to remove
the stains of coffee, pies and other remains. "I don't think they are going to be dry anytime soon."
"Well," Yuki looked at her from downcast eyes. "If you don't mind sharing a bed..."
"Ahh..." Alex looked at her, "well... I..."
"It's the only alternative."
"It's not that," Alex fidgeted, "its..."
"What?"
"My clothes are in the wash, remember."
"Oh," Yuki coloured. "Well you will have to borrow some of mine then." She stood up,
"come on."
Alex scratched uncomfortably at the strange AMP uniform that Rally had insisted that she
wear. She definitely was not a fan of whoever had designed the damned thing. While it was
functional, supposed to be resistant to the wear and tear that fighting entities would entail, it
seemed to remind her of something out of the bondage rage from the last century, all leather and
straps.
"Stop fidgeting," Yuki said as they rode up the elevator towards the floor with the Chief's
office.
"Sorry, I just can't get the..." Alex squirmed again and tried to pull the uniform down,
"...hang of this damned contraption..."
"Don't worry, you look fine..." Yuki said.
"It just is not me..."
"It is," Yuki assured her as she looked at the figure that Alex portrayed. The uniform did
indeed do the younger girl justice. It hugged the athletic, slender form in a way that accentuated all
the right characteristics in all the right ways. Yuki's eyes slowly caressed the form of her companion
and unconsciously she licked her lips.
Yes... she thought, the uniform DID indeed do her justice...
"Yuki!" Alex suddenly said loudly.
"What?!?" Yuki suddenly came back to reality with a bang. "I'm not doing anything..."
"Hump?!?" Alex looked at her oddly. "What's that mean? I only said that the lift has arrived,
and you seemed to be thinking about something else."
"Ohhh... Yes! Yes, that's right!" Yuki shook her head slightly to clear it, (plus the odd
images), and turned her attention back to Alex's statement.
Alex gave her a confused stare, and then said "come on then, or we will be late." She
walked out of the lift and waited for a moment until Yuki caught up with her.
"You seem to be a bit out of it this morning," she commented. "Is anything wrong?"
"No," Yuki said, shaking her head. "I'm fine."
"Yuki, even though it has been over three weeks since you woke up, I don't think anyone is
going to blame you if you don't want to come back to work yet. I mean, even the Chief was
surprised when you said that you would be starting this week."
"No," Yuki said more adamantly. "I am fine - besides, the doctors say I check out as fit for
duty. I am getting slightly sick of just staring at walls all day."
"What?" Alex said with a slight hurt look. "Don't you like my company? The Chief said I had
to stay with you. Don't you like me or something?"
"NO! No! I love you!" Yuki spluttered out, then suddenly realised what she had just said. "I
mean, I love your company!" she corrected as she felt the blood beginning to rush to her face.
"Come on! We have to see the Chief!" She grabbed a bemused Alex by the arm and almost pulled
her over as she half ran for the Chief's office.
"Hey!" Alex said as she tried both to catch her balance and to try to keep up with Yuki.
"Wait for me!"
Rally glanced up as the two figures entered the room and stood to attention.
"You're late," she commented as her eyes swept back to the papers on her desk.
"Sorry Chief," Alex apologised.
"Well, enough of that, lets get started." Rally's senses noted that Yuki seemed to be... very
tense for some reason. The girl's pulse rate was higher than it normally should be and she seemed
almost to be flushed.
"Yuki?" she asked. "Are you alright?"
"Wha..." Yuki almost seemed to jump. "Yes! I am fine!"
"Very well," Rally watched her carefully for a moment, trying to place what the hell the girl
was so jumpy about. "Let's get down to business then."
The briefing took over an hour as Rally bought the two girls up to date on the current
situation with the Lucifer Hawks. The news was mixed, although the general activity of the entities
had been slightly less than what it had been, the nature of the attacks had changed.
"It is almost as if they are focusing on a strategy," Rally commented at one point. "That is
something they have never done before."
"What do you mean, by strategy?" Yuki asked.
"The targets that they are attacking," Rally elaborated. "They are not just random as they
have been in the past. This time they appear to have a pattern. A very weird pattern, but a pattern
never the less. For example, for three days in a row one entity attacked the same power station, at
the same place and the same time. Then on the fourth night - nothing. In Kyo-cho, another entity
attacked a police station. It could have killed every one inside, but it deliberately did not harm
anyone. Then on the very next day the same entity appears to have killed all the members of a
family just a stones throw from the same station. Why?"
"Seemingly random violence, but at the same time conforming to a plan..." Alex wondered
out loud, "I see what you mean. However, it does not mean that the plan has a purpose. It simply
could be a... No, it is a cover, a cover for something else... a distraction for something..." Her voice
faded away for a moment as she seemed lost in thought.
"I wondered something of the same," Rally commented. "But it does not make any..."
"Yes, it does make sense!" Alex suddenly said. "The entities need chaos, for them that is a
purpose in itself! Image it, they do not seem to be willing, or able to launch a direct attack, so they
are engaging in terrorist tactics! Tactics which will confuse and soften us up for something big..."
"That's a possibility," Rally looked thoughtful. "But that only tells us what we already know,
they want to wipe us out."
Alex shrugged, "nothing new in that - but I think we can assume that if they are going to
pull something then it will be soon. The odds are more than certain that Katsumi will be part of it."
"But," Yuki broke in. "Are we certain that... that it was Katsumi who tried to..."
"Oh yes," Rally finished her sentence for her. "Yes we are certain that it was Katsumi. Lets
for now just say that we have managed to confirm that fact."
"How?" asked Yuki.
Rally shook her head. "I am sorry Yuki, I cannot tell you that. The source of the information
is... shall we say very confidential."
"But..." Yuki tried to continue, but stopped when Rally held up her hand. "Yuki, I know what
Katsumi meant to you, but you have to accept my word on this. Katsumi is now our enemy."
Alex reached over and put an arm gently on Yuki's shoulder. She pulled the girl to her as
Yuki suddenly burst into tears.
"Hush... Hush..." she whispered as she gently rocked the weeping girl. Yuki grabbed onto
her as if the red head was the only pillar left in her word. Alex responded by wrapping both her arms
tightly around the weeping form and drew her closely to her. "Sshhh..." she said as she stroked the
girl's head. "Everything will be fine..."
Yuki's emotional reaction caused Rally to nod. It was better that Yuki get it out of her now.
She stood up, it would be better to let Alex help Yuki recover alone. She walked briskly to the door
and went outside. She needed to see Mana anyway, and it would be a while before Yuki got over
her emotional storm.
Yuki did not notice as the Chief left. She was too caught up in the surge of emotions that
seemed to be flooding through her. All coherent thought had left her mind the instant Alex pulled her
tightly against her. The smell of clean soap once again wafted through Yuki's mind. The close
feeling of the other girl's form... The warmth from her body, the emotional support that came from
her, the smell, and finally the realisation of what Katsumi had tried to do caused Yuki to forget
reality. She pushed herself back slightly from Alex and looked directly into those so intense green
eyes. They looked slightly puzzled, at what was happening. Then Yuki closed her eyes and with a
deliberate grace planted her lips fully onto Alex's.
Alex's mind went totally blank, as she felt Yuki's moist lips clamp onto hers and a tongue
suddenly invade her mouth. Her legs began to shake and lose their strength as she felt Yuki's
hands begin to caress various sensitive parts of her body. Her body flooded with overactive 16-
year-old hormones at the feelings that Yuki's attentions generated. She began to feel light-headed,
and without being aware of it, slowly sank into Yuki's arms. All direct volition was gone as Yuki
hands continued to... aaaahhhhhh...
Lost in bliss, Yuki adjusted her arms to support the weight of the younger girl. She slowly
lowered the two of them to the floor. Alex seemed to struggle for a moment, before Yuki lowered
herself on top of the other girl, overpowering her smaller form. Greedily now, Yuki kissed hungrily at
those soft lips, forcing Alex's head back as she pushed down. Yuki's hands moved - grasping,
caressing, and undoing until they finally hit upon the soft flesh beneath. As Alex felt Yuki's hands
press up against her flesh, she began to feel afraid. That fear helped, slightly, to cut through the fog
that was clouding her mind. She began to struggle beneath Yuki, trying to push the heavier girl off
her. Yuki reacted by pushing herself more heavily down, as her lust and the power that it bought her
gave her a sense of control of the like she had never had.
Yuki repositioned herself, and in doing so opened her eyes as she removed her lips from
Alex's. For the first time she looked down at the younger girl pinned beneath her. Alex's face was
flushed. Her eyes looked wild and scared as she stared up at Yuki. The look in those eyes, and the
fear that Yuki could sense radiating from the younger girl's mind, suddenly caused Yuki to realise
what it was she was trying to do. She suddenly felt cold - what had she just tried to... Self-disgust
flushed through her, and she gave a slight whimper as she backed away. She get go of the pinning
hold she had been unconsciously using, and with horror saw what she had been doing. Alex's
uniform had been more than half stripped off, revealing the pale flesh that lay beneath. Some of the
flesh was discoloured where Yuki had... Abruptly Yuki turned and fled. She could not face any
more. She did not want to see what would be reflected in Alex's eyes when she...
Alex barely registered the sound of Yuki's panicked exit. Her mind and body were still
disjointed and numb. She stared up at the ceiling above, breathing heavily, until she slowly sat up.
Emotionally drained and still numbed by the experience she began to slowly redress herself. This
simple, mundane process slowly brought her back to her senses. This was the first... real...
encounter of a sexual nature she had ever had. It left her... confused... numb... She could not
describe it. She liked Yuki, had... sort of like the feelings that Yuki's caresses had initially aroused.
What did that mean? What was she to do? She had feelings for Yuki... but... She staggered to the
private wash room and dashed cold water on her face. It helped... Her mind began to clarify as the
cold dissipated the last of the hormonal induced fog. She caught sight of herself in the mirror. She
was a mess, both her uniform and herself. She also noticed that there was a strange musky smell
which...
"Fucking hell!" she swore aloud as she located the source of the musky odour. A long dark
wet stain ran from her pantline down the inner thigh of the left leg. What the fuck was she going to
do now?
Rally and Mana were caught in the conference room, having a less than civil discussion
with elements of the Ministry of the Interior, and Defence. Officials from both departments were less
than happy with the current state of affairs, and once again Rally had to fight for the survival of the
AMP.
"...but I have explained the nature of our role..." Rally began, but was cut off by a sharp
interruption.
"The Minister does not care about anything but results. Your department has been less
than successful in combating the threat represented by these... things... As a result it has been
decided to bring in those who can get results." The man leaned forward and stared at Rally. "The
Minister is not unsympathetic to either you, or your people. AMP is a valued resource, both to our
city and the people, but the current crisis has gone beyond what the Minister feels you can cope
with. You need help Rally Cheyenne, and that is what Colonel Reece and his department can
bring."
"What do you mean?" Rally went cold. She had heard of Colonel Reece, and his...
department before.
"Colonel Reece, will be taking over the responsibilities of AMP. Your group will be merged
into his department and he will be placed in direct command over the efforts to combat this threat -
to whatever is its conclusion." He opened his case and bought forth an electronic pad. He placed it
down on the table. "Here are the orders from the Minister. As I said before, you and your people are
a highly valued asset. The role that each of you play will be vital in our defence, but to put it bluntly,
you need direction, and this will be that direction."
"I..." Rally began. She halted suddenly as the door behind her opened and a short
unassuming man in uniform entered the room.
"Have you told her?" he said abruptly.
If it were possible for the other man to cower he would have. "Ye... Yes, Colonel I have..."
"Good," the other man dismissed the lackey from his mind and focused his attention on
Rally. For a moment the dead, cold eyes watched her as if he were trying to read her soul, and then
he spoke.
"You are working for me now Rally Cheyenne, you and your people." He pause for a
moment before continuing. "I have been watching your progress for sometime - you have potential,
but it needs to be focused. I am the one who will give you that focus. I am neither fair, nor cruel,
kind or feeling - I simply get the job done, and that is why I am here - to get the job done. You and
your people will help with that process, it is not a choice - you will help. I will do whatever it
necessary to complete my task, and if that involves making sacrifices then I will make them. Do you
understand me, Rally Cheyenne?"
"Yes..." Rally stared at him. "I understand perfectly."
"Good, then we will begin. I have men and equipment to move into this building, you will
oversee the process. Lieutenant Carver, outside will be your liaison. He reports directly to you, and
you report directly to me. I want this facility to be fully operational in 48 hours. Understood?"
Rally got to her feet, "I understand." She turned and gestured for Mana to follow her. Mana
got to her feet and turned to follow.
"Wait," a voice said behind her. "I have a different task for you Mana Isozaki, one more
fitted to your talents."
Mana paused and her gaze flickered for a moment to Rally, as if for confirmation. Reece
noticed the glance but said nothing, he simply waited until Mana turned.
"Yes sir," she said as Rally left the room. She had not heard as much of Reece as had
Rally, but she knew enough, and the single glance from her Chief had been enough to confirm that
for now she must obey.
Yuki ran. She ran out of the office. She ran out of the AMP building. She tried to run the
image of Alex out of her mind. Finally, she could run no more and stopped. Leaning against a wall
she tried to recover her breath. Her feelings of self hatred and loathing that had initially started her
mad flee, erupted again and Yuki fell to her knees with tears streaming down her face. She could
still see the image of Alex's face watching her with the fear in her eyes. Yuki slowly got again to her
feet. She needed to be else where - she had to escape! She had to go somewhere, anywhere
where the image would no longer haunt her. Slowly, on uncertain feet she made her way back to
the only place she had ever called home. She walked back the steps to Labyrinth.
Yuki half stumbled down the small set of stairs that led to Labyrinth. She did not notice that
the lights were on, and that the door, when she pushed on it opened silently onto a lit room. She
had only one thought she...
"Hello Yuki-chan," a very familiar voice whispered to her.
Yuki felt cold and turned to face her former best friend. Katsumi was watching her with a
smile on her face, slipping coffee out of the cup that Yuki had once chosen specially for her.
"Katsumi...chan..." Yuki whispered with a sense of dread, "why..." The image of Alex
suddenly came to her again and Yuki felt the dread turn to something colder, aimed wholly at
herself. Yuki's eyes grew hard and she faced Katsumi.
"Why are you here - you murderess whore?!" she spat out, hoping that Katsumi would
react.
"Whore?" Katsumi's eyes raised. "Well, well Yuki - you have grown up, haven't you..."
"Shut up!" Yuki yelled. "Either fucking kill me, or get the hell out of here!"
"Oh dear Yuki," Katsumi said. "You have had a bad day haven't you..." Katsumi altered her
grip on the coffee cup that she was holding, and the smile on her face grew wider. "No..." she said.
"No, Yuki-chan I will not kill you. You are my best friend after all, and I like this new you... It is so...
refreshing..."
"Go to hell!" Yuki said and raising a fist she moved towards Katsumi.
"Oh my..." Katsumi commented and put down her coffee. "Perhaps you may be useful to
me after all..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuki asked.
"For the moment, Yuki-chan, nothing" Katsumi said. "Merely that at sometime in the future
we may be useful to each other."
"Me?" Yuki gasped out, "help you? I would rather die..."
"Really," Katsumi commented. "Not even if I could help you with, say a little love problem..."
"WHAT!?" Yuki spluttered.
"You have good taste, if nothing else..." Katsumi commented. "Although I don't think your
little red head will be too conducive, after what you tried on her."
"I..." Yuki slumped down as she felt the black feelings of depression threaten to override
her yet again.
"I could change that, Yuki-chan" Katsumi promised, "I could make her willing to do anything
for you..."
"No..." Yuki tried to say.
"Imagine her beneath you, Yuki-chan... Imagine that soft flesh, her voice whispering in to
your... Imagine Yuki-chan... the eyes looking at you filled with adoration, the hot cries of your
name..." Katsumi closed her eyes and Yuki felt herself carried away by the images that her voice
promised.
Yuki once again remembered the warm wetness of that lips, the touch of the silky skin...
The hot feelings once again threatened to overcome her...
Katsumi watched as Yuki closed her eyes her tongue darting over her lips. She smiled.
Yuki was hers now. So in time would all of the AMP. Then and only then, when they grovelled on
their feet before her, would her revenge be complete. Then and only then, when Rally saw her
children begging, would Katsumi let them die. Until then...
(to be continued)