This story is based "very loosely" around ideas from Highlander and
various Vampire stories I have read recently.
In summary this chapter looks back into the past (2039) and begins to
set the scene for how Linna became involved with the events that lead
to her bargin.
Any comments, C&C, or flames take.
Cheers
Alex Gray.
E-mail - mailto:hitomi@ndirect.co.uk
WWW home - http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Subway/7630/
===================================================================================================
Chapter Two - A Stranger Calls
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: AD 2039, 5 January, 23:56
"Two years..." Linna mumbled to herself as she poured yet another glass
of wine. "Difficult to believe it."
"What?" Priss looked up at her roommate from the sofa on which she was
sprawled.
"I said its difficult to believe that its only been two years," Linna
replied before her brain fully realised what it was she was saying. "Oh
shit..." Linna swore to herself. "Priss, I'm sorry I..."
Priss did not reply. She did not need to be reminded, not when she
tried the majority of her time trying to forget... Two years... and still
the events of that night haunted her...
Linna saw the bleak look pass over her friend's face and silently she
cursed herself. She never knew when to keep her big mouth shut! She put
down the glass and went over to the sofa. Once there she knelt down and
looked directly into the dark eyes of her roommate.
"It wasn't your fault Priss," she said gently. "Leon..."
Priss did not hear the rest. That name alone was enough to trigger the
rise of dark self-loathing that she used so frequently to punish herself.
She bolted to her feet knocking Linna to the floor as she did so. She
did not want to listen to the warmth of her roommate's voice, or see the
pity reflected in those eyes. It had been her fault! She had been one who
had screwed up! And she would never, ever, forgive herself that fact!
Linna groaned and an expression of self-contempt flashed over her face
at the sound of the door to the caravan slamming shut. "Stupid! Stupid!"
she swore at herself. Her eyes suddenly widened and she scrambled to her
feet as she heard the familiar roar of the engine explode to life outside.
"Priss! Wait!" she bolted to the door but was only in time to catch the
rear taillight vanishing into the darkness of the night. "Fuck!"
Linna slammed the poor door shut. "Fuck!" she cursed again. "Linna, you
STUPID, FUCKEN, IDIOT!!" She kicked the poor abused door as her rage at
herself exploded. "SHIT!!" The door made a dull thud as Linna slammed her
fist into it. The pain of the impact made her eyes water but that was the
least she deserved for her BLOODY STUPIDITY!
She savoured the presence of the pain for a moment while her rage
slowly passed. She lowered her head against the cold metal and muttered a
few more choice epitaphs. How could she have been so stupid!
Tonight - of all nights...
"Shit..." she swore one final time and walked over to the small
makeshift area that served as the kitchen. She opened one of the cupboards
and looked at the box holding the small cake that she had just
bought for both of them. The cake that she was going to surprise Priss
with. The one that she was going to use to celebrate the news of the job
that she had finally managed to secure today. A job at a small company
willing to ignore the blacklisting that the bitch Sylia had put on both
Linna and Priss as a result of that night over two years ago...
Linna took down the box and opened it. She looked at the cute little
iced caricatures that she had spent so much of her advance on and with a
growl of rage slammed her fist into it.
"Fuck you Sylia Stingray!" Linna cursed. "I won't let you ruin my life!
Not for something that was your bloody fault!" She grabbed the box and
slammed it into the waste chute. Breathing heavily she began to
get a grip on herself. She turned on the cold water tap and splashed the
water over her face. The bitter coldness made her feel slightly better.
"Oh Priscilla..." she sighed and threw herself onto the overstuffed
sofa that also sometimes served as her bed. She looked up at the ceiling
and contemplated the mess that her life had become. She resisted the
almost overwhelming temptation of retreating yet again into drink. She
couldn't do that, not when she would have to probably deal with all the
self-hatred and loathing that a drunken Priss would throw upon herself when
she finally returned.
"Priss love..." Linna whispered to herself as she felt the sick dread
at the abuse her best friend... her only friend... would heap upon herself
tonight as a result of Linna's stupid mouth. She sighed in a bleak tone -
tonight was going to be a long wait...
It was the sound of the door to the caravan being banged repeatedly
that woke Linna from her fitful sleep.
"Hello!" a young female voice called from outside. "Is anyone there?
Hello!"
"Priss?" Linna muttered to herself as she eased her stiff body from the
sofa.
"Hello!" the door banged again as the voice called out.
Linna crossed quickly over to the door and unlocking it she turned on
the outside light.
"Thank God," the voice stated in relief as the light revealed the
blinking form of a young teenager and the drunken burden that she was
struggling to keep up.
"Priss!" Linna exclaimed as she helped the struggling girl get the
drunken and semiconscious form into the caravan. The unknown girl stood
back as Linna deposited the drunken figure on the single small bed.
Linna pulled the old worn boots off Priss and after throwing them to one
side pulled the overlarge quilt up around the drunken figure.
"Is she going to be alright?" a soft voice said from behind her.
Linna jumped slightly, she had forgotten the presence of the girl.
"Yes, I think so," Linna said as she turned to look properly at the
figure who must have bought Priss home. The girl looked to be about 16 or
so, with a slender athletic looking body. Shoulder length fiery red hair
framed a very pale and exotically attractive face. The girl focused two
very deep green eyes on Linna and a nervous smile flickered across her
face.
"Does your friend do this often?" the girl asked. "She nearly ran me
down earlier she was so drunk."
"I'm really sorry," Linna said. "Please don't think bad of her...
She..."
"Forget it Linna," the girl said with a bright laugh "If I can survive
the destruction of a universe then getting hit by a drunken biker isn't
going to worry me."
Linna wondered how the girl knew her name.
"Priss had better be more careful though," the girl said. "She is
nearly very close to obtaining that goal of self destruction that she seems
to have set her heart on. She almost died tonight and if I hadn't been
there..."
"Oh Gods Priss," Linna moaned. "When are you going to stop blaming
yourself..."
The girl did not say anything. She just simply watched as Linna moved
over to stand by the twitching ex-singer. Linna sat down on the edge of the
bed and whispering gently to the drunken form tried to
ease her out of whatever nightmare that was haunting her. The girl watched
the expressions of love, friendship and concern pass over the older woman's
face and her lips curled up slightly in a mocking lopsided grin.
Linna smiled as slowly under her ministrations Priss fell into a deeper
more settled sleep. She sighed, she should have gotten used to this by
now...
"You and her seem to be very close," the girl commented making Linna
twist her head around.
"Yes," she said with a sad smile as she looked at the girl. "Everyone
else is..."
"Gone?" the girl finished for her.
Linna did not answer. She did not like to be reminded...
"That you are all alone," the girl whispered. "That everyone you have
ever loved or cared for is gone." She sighed and the weight of sadness
within it almost caused Linna to go and comfort the strange
girl.
"I know how you feel," the girl said with a slightly forced smile.
"Make sure you look after her then, okay?"
Linna could only nod, whatever this girl's history it was obvious she
was going to keep it to herself. For some reason Linna felt uncomfortable
with that. She almost felt like she needed to do something for this
child....
"Have you eaten? Would you like something?" she blurted out.
The girl looked at her for a moment, almost as if the offer surprised
her. "You don't need to trouble yourself Linna. Bringing your friend here
was off my own back. I don't need anything in..."
"Please," Linna said. "Let me make you something. It's no trouble -
really."
"Are you sure?" the girl said. "Really sure?"
"Of course," Linna said with a reassuring smile. Was this girl so alone
that she even had problems accepting hospitality?
The girl looked slightly uncertain for a moment and then she nodded.
"Thank you."
Linna held out her hand. "It's perhaps time we introduced ourselves. My
name is Linna Yamazaki, and my drunken friend here is Priscilla Asagiri, or
just Priss."
"Samantha," the girl replied pausing for a second before taking the
hand. "Samantha De'Naime, but you might as well just call me Sam."
"Sam it is then," Linna was slightly surprised at the girl's cold grip.
"Would you like a drink to warm you up? You look a bit chilly."
"Do I?" Sam was surprised. "I feel fine."
"Oh," Linna was sort of uncertain how to answer that. She wanted to
help this girl who like Priss seemed almost to be lost. She pursed her
lips, how could she question the girl without seeming to be rude.
"Sorry..." Sam said when she saw the expression on Linna's face. "I..."
"Forget it," Linna brushed the apology aside. She had to learn to keep
herself more under control. She smiled and gestured for Sam to follow her.
"So, what would you like? I can't promise a lot but at least it is warm and
filling."
Sam shrugged, "I don't really mind."
"Well, how much time do you have?" Linna asked.
"I haven't got anywhere I have to be - so as long as you want," Sam
replied.
Linna frowned, "don't you have anyone who might be worried about you?"
Sam looked at her blankly and did not reply.
"Where do you live? I mean, you MUST have SOMEONE..." Linna pressed.
"Ahh..." Sam coughed. "I don't really live anywhere much..."
Linna looked at her hard. "You are a run away - aren't you?"
Sam shook her head. "How can I be a run away? I have no one to run away
from." She squirmed uncomfortably, "look - can we drop this subject. I
don't really... well... like talking about myself too much."
"Then you really are alone - aren't you..." Linna looked at the
redhead. "Well, you are staying here the night now. That is the least I can
do."
"No, I can't..." Sam began nervously.
"You are," Linna said in a tone that brooked no argument. "First you
are going to get something to eat and then you are going to get some sleep.
Now, what did you want?"
Linna quietly eased herself into her makeshift bed. She tried to make
as little noise as possible because both Priss and the girl called Sam were
already fast asleep. For all Sam's protests she had eaten like one who had
not had a decent meal in a long time. That, and the fact that Sam had gone
out like a light the moment her head had hit the sofa helped convince Linna
that she had been right insisting the girl remain.
"You will not be alone now," Linna whispered as she closed her eyes and
began to follow her two companions into sleep. "And neither will Priss, or
I... Sam...."
"Priss," Sam said in an annoyed tone. "You promised that you would get
some fresh vegetables. How am I going to make dinner without anything to
cook?"
"Don't know," Priss sounded unconcerned as she pulled open the
refrigerator and looked inside.
"Hey!" she suddenly said. "Where's the rest of my pizza?"
"If you mean the pizza that's been in there for the last 4 days," Sam
replied looking through various shelves. "I biffed it."
"You what!" Priss spun around on the smaller girl. "That was mine!"
Sam turned and faced the irate biker. "Yes, and it was beginning to
smell like you as well."
Priss went bright red. "What's that supposed to mean!?" she burst out.
"Have you had a shower recently?" she said. "If you did... HEY!!"
Priss grabbed the younger girl in a headlock. "I'll give you smell!"
she laughed as she wrestled the redhead around the small room.
"HEY!" Linna exclaimed as she was nearly knocked off her feet by the
struggling pair. "Watch it!"
The two forms happily ignored her and continued to fight. Linna smiled
as she watched. It still amazed her the change that had happened in Priss
in the last four months that the three of them had been together. She
seemed to have almost returned to the same Priss that Linna knew before the
events of that fateful night over two years before. She was even speaking
of getting back to her singing. Linna had never dared to hope before but
somehow the miracle looked like it was happening. Priss was slowly
regaining her love of life. Linna's job was bringing in a steady income,
not a great income, but at least it was steady. As for Sam... Well of that,
Linna was uncertain. Sam seemed to have a character that was... odd. That
was the only way Linna could describe it. At times, like now, the girl
seemed to be a normal teenager but there were other
times...
"Hey Linna... Priss - will you let me breath for a moment," Sam
struggled to break the head lock Priss had her in. "Linna!"
"What?" Linna exclaimed from the sofa. "Priss! Let her go!"
"Meanie," Priss commented as she let the redhead go.
"Someone came by to see you today when you and Priss were out. A real
rude bitchy woman. First of all she demanded to see you, and when I told
her you were out she demanded to see Priss. When I told her Priss was also
out she tried to push her way in saying that I was lying!" Sam giggled, "so
I taught her a little lesson."
"What did this woman look like?" Linna asked in a tight voice.
"Black hair, stylish looking - or was before I..." Sam began to reply.
"Did she say who she was?" Priss broke in feeling a shiver pass down
her spine.
"Ah..." Sam frowned. "I..."
"Sam," Linna stood up and moved over to the girl. "It's important. Did
she say who she was?"
"Stingray. Sylia Stingray," Sam replied. "Why? What is so important?"
Neither Priss nor Linna answered her question. They were looking at
each other. Each of them felt the same thing - fear.
"Hello..." Sam said. "Hello... Excuse me..."
"Oh, sorry Sam," Linna turned back to the younger redhead. "This woman
is someone that both I and Priss know. A woman who was once a... friend,
but now..."
"Well, don't worry about her," Sam with a smile. "I took care of her."
Linna was confused, "what do you mean - you took care of her?"
"I kicked her out of here!" Sam giggled. "First the bitch tried to
force her way in here and then when I stopped her she called me a whore! So
I kicked her out. I don't think she will be coming back here in a
hurry!"
To say that Linna and Priss were surprised was putting it mildly.
"WHAT??" Linna exploded.
"YOU??" Priss followed. "But..." The idea of this smaller redhead
"kicking" Sylia's ass was not exactly something she saw as possible.
Sam frowned - why the heck were they reacting like this?
"Sam," Linna said. "What exactly did you do to her?"
"Well she tried to hit me, so I thumped her right back. She missed me -
I didn't miss her," Sam laughed brightly at the memory of the surprise on
the woman's face. "After that she just cursed and threatened
me a bit before she shot off. She did say however that she would be back,
insisted on it in fact. Why all the interest? Did I do something
inappropriate?"
Linna sighed, "no not really. It's just that Sylia... Well, she is not
exact a person you want as an enemy. She remembers everything and usually
pays it back with interest."
Sam looked at Linna and something almost like glee flashed over her
face. "She can try. Others have..."
Priss shifted uncomfortably at the almost predatory look in the girl's
eyes. Sam noticed and her face became more relaxed. "Don't worry about me,"
she smiled. "I can look after myself and you as well. This is
my territory now and I will defend it."
Odd choice of words, Linna thought but she did not pay the comment
anymore attention than that. If Sylia had come around then it would have
been for a reason, and as Sam had said Sylia would be back.
"Priss," Linna made a nod towards the door. "Sam, this does not concern
you and it might be better if you didn't get involved."
"Hey," Sam said. "That's not fair. I am already involved. You two are
my friends - I want to help. I can..."
"No Sam!" Linna said bluntly. "This is not your issue. It is ours and I
don't want you involved. We will tidy up our own mess."
"But..."
"No."
"I can help..."
"No, Sam."
"But you are my friends!"
"No!" Linna put an end to the discussion. "I don't want you getting
hurt..."
"I thought we were friends. Obviously I was wrong. If that is the way
you feel about me then I'll leave the two of you in peace."
"Sam," Linna began. "I didn't mean..."
"Don't!" Sam said pushing past the older woman. Linna winced as the
sound of the door slamming shook the walls.
"I think she is slightly pissed," Priss noted.
"Rather put my foot in it I suppose," Linna replied. "But I don't want
her getting hurt."
"It's not me you should be telling," Priss said.
"Sam! Wait!!" Linna ran out the door following the path the girl had
taken. Outside the night was cool and moist with the promise of rain. Linna
looked around but she could see no sign of the girl anywhere.
"SAM!" she yelled out. "WHERE ARE YOU!!" She waited to see if Sam would
respond. The seconds passed - nothing. Linna sighed and went back inside.
"No luck?" Priss asked.
"She's gone," Linna replied. "How and where I don't know. She'll be
back."
"Yeah..." Priss muttered. "Perhaps it is for the best. If Stingray is
up to something..."
"But why now?" Linna mused. "Why after 2 years for God's sake?"
"She did say she would make us regret it for the rest of our lives,"
Priss shrugged. "Perhaps she wants to start making it hurt."
"What the hell do you think she's been doing!" Linna almost exploded.
"That bitch ruined our lives! It has only been in the last couple of months
that either of us have been able to get something back!"
"Hey!" Priss held up her hands. "You don't need to explode at me. I,
most of all, know what she has done... I..." She turned away and Linna
swore softly at herself.
"I'm sorry Priss, I didn't mean it like that. It's just..." Linna tried
to say what it was that she felt but...
"I know Linna," Priss turned back and tried to smile. "I know..."
"What do we do then?" Linna gently returned to the main subject.
"She would not have come here directly not unless she really wanted to
talk. She has always preferred to work from the shadows," Priss commented.
"Yes," Linna smiled. "I bet she was rather shocked by Sam's presence."
"Especially if Sam really did 'kick her ass'," Priss giggled at the
image. "I think that is one sight I would have loved to see, however Sam
did it."
"Yes..." Linna wondered. "I would like to know how she did that. Either
she's very good, or Sylia has really lost it over the last two years. And
looking at Sam I can't really see her defeating the Sylia we both
knew - so maybe..."
"She's become fat and lax now with all the power she has?" Priss said
with a hopeful smile.
"Something like that," Linna finished.
"You know the only way we are going to be able to find out is by
actually contacting her don't you?" Priss stated.
Linna did not answer for a moment. She was trying to decide what was
best to do. If they did nothing and Sylia was determined to get to them
then... She shook her head slightly, that was not a pleasant thought.
The simple fact was that Sylia wanted to talk to them, for whatever reason,
she wanted to talk. Linna knew from bitter experience that what Sylia
wanted, Sylia usually got.
"We need to contact her," Linna said calmly as she saw the darkening
look on Priss's face. "I know how you feel about that Priss," Linna held up
her hand to forestall the explosion she sensed mounting. "But
what choice do we really have? You know Sylia she will have her way no
matter what we do. If we arrange it so at least we can see her coming
then..."
"Damage control," Priss forced herself to calm down. "Okay, I can at
least see the logic in that. But how?"
"Leave the details to me," Linna said. "I will get in touch with Nene
and she can act as the go between. Her at least I still trust."
"Okay then," Priss said. "I will leave it up to you, but I warn you I
still don't feel comfortable with this..."
"Don't worry Priss," Linna said with a forced smile. "I'm sure
everything will turn out fine."
"Yeah... sure..."
The queue to enter Hades was as packed as usual and the two bouncers
stood like ancient Gods deciding who could enter and who could not. They
watched dispassionately as numerous supplicants came forward begging in one
way or another to be let into the hottest club in Tokyo. The criteria which
they used as a filter to state who was successful and who was not could not
be rationally determined by those who were watching them. It seemed almost
as if they randomly let some enter and rejected others on a whim. However,
these bouncers had very specific criteria for letting people in - very
special criteria indeed.
Sam looked at the long queue as it snaked back around the block and
smiled evilly to herself. She skipped across onto the road and walked
around the bustling crowd until she came to the head of the queue.
Pushing around those waiting to get in she presented herself to the two
guardians. One of them fixed her with steely look.
"Hi ya!" she said with a grin. "Is Sophia around?"
The man's eyes narrowed slightly and he glared at her.
"Now, now..." Sam said disapprovingly. "It's not polite to stare, nor
can it be very healthy if offence is taken."
The man jerked up and the two sets of eyes lowered slightly.
"That's much better," Sam approved. "Now if you don't mind..."
The first bouncer hurriedly got out of the way and tried to put as much
distance between him and the redhead as possible as he held the door open.
Sam looked at him for a moment licking her lips thoughtfully. After letting
the mortal hybrid sweat for a time she decided that the effort was not
worth it and walked into the club.
"Hey! How the hell did she..."
The protests behind her were cut off as the door closed and Sam walked
into a crowded, jostled, lively environment. She took a moment to orientate
herself to the rush of so many new sensations. She breathed in the scents
drifting on the air and smiled slightly as she recognized some of the
predators that were here. Some presences were unfamiliar to her... and
several... Sam tilted her head slightly in surprise. She
could detect the faint radiance of Demons... Interesting...
"Ahhh..." Sam detected the presence she was after and started to push
her way through the crowds of dancing figures, roaring music and drunken
people towards that faint aura. She made no effort to shield her own
presence and she had no doubt that by now the other... non-humans had
picked up her rather... distinct presence. She smiled faintly to herself as
she detected some of the reactions that she was getting. Fear, amusement,
welcome, anger... It was rather a mixed bag but then that was her lot.
Still grinning Sam moved towards the location of Sophia. She was also aware
that subtly she had suddenly become the center of attention for many of the
predators here. Subtly... They knew that to be too inquisitive would be
rude and as Sam had told the bouncer, she did not like rude... individuals.
"Samantha..." a voice said quietly behind her.
"Arrain," Sam acknowledged and turned to greet the Asian. She nodded
her head slightly in respect to the other's rank. "It's been a long time."
The man smiled slightly, "for some of us, perhaps. Although to others
time is relative."
Sam did not comment. Arrain always liked to play word games, especially
because he knew it annoyed her. So she just remained silent.
"One is interested to know why you have decided to break your exile and
show your presence?" Arrain commented with a raised eyebrow.
Sam's mouth tightened. She knew that Arrain was trying for a reaction
and protocol to his rank demanded that she give him an answer.
"Personal business Arrain," she answered.
"Ah," Arrain replied. "Then that is what I shall tell the Council. I am
sure that they will understand."
Sam's eyes glittered as something unholy flashed in their blackening
depths. Arrain smile widened as he achieved the reaction he was after.
"Sam," another voice suddenly said causing the two of them to turn. "I
am so glad that you were able to accept my invitation and come."
Arrain's eyes narrowed as he looked at the tall woman striding towards
them. "Your invitation?" he repeated as the woman came to stand beside
them.
"Of course," Sophia said dismissively. "Why? Do you have a problem with
that?" Her smile remained the same, but the intention was clear to all that
were watching this... different event.
Arrain paused for a moment before replying. This was Sophia's
territory, she had the right to invite any she chose and that right
included sanctuary, for even those such as... Samantha. He dropped his
eyes.
"No, of course not," he replied reluctantly. "That is not my right. The
Council however..."
"Arrain," Sophia cut across him. "I do believe that you are getting
boring. I don't like boring individuals, they depress me."
Arrain repressed the snarl that threatened to erupt across his face at
Sophia's comment. He recognized a dismissal when he heard one, and this was
Sophia's territory.
"Forgive me," he replied. "I will endeavour to try harder to be far
more... captivating the next time we meet." He bowed his head slightly and
shot a look at the redhead. His face curled slightly and he turned and
left.
"How boring..." Sophia commented as the figure departed.
Sam did not speak. She knew that a noble of Arrain's rank would not
forget this and she knew that Sophia knew that as well. "Arrain has become
very sure of himself," she commented. "Either that or very suicidal."
Sophia turned her head to look at the slender redhead. The look of
annoyance on the girl's young face was all the reason she needed to be glad
she had intervened. The Samantha she remembered tended to get
rather... excessive with those who annoyed her.
"Forgive me Sophia," the redhead grinned up at her. "I did not mean to
cause you any inconvenience."
Sophia smiled back - the danger had passed. "It is so good to see you
again Sam. You haven't changed a bit - even after so long."
Sam shrugged, "I am what I am." Her smile turned slightly mockingly as
she regarded herself. "I always will be."
Sophia nodded. Nice to know her old... friend... was still the same.
"Perhaps we should go somewhere more comfortable to talk. This place is
rather crowded."
Sam blinked in acknowledgement of the point. They were currently the
center of attention for far too many.
"After you," she said and followed as Sophia lead the two of them into
the inner depths of the club.
When the two of them were seated comfortably Sophia turned to Sam.
"The Council will be most... disturbed by your return Sam," Sophia
began.
"Return?" Sam shook her head. "I never left. I simply had other
amusements to look to."
"I don't think the Council will see it like that. They..."
"Chose to believe what they wanted to and placed the blame on me," Sam
stated.
"They are afraid of you," Sophia said softly.
"What?" Sam laughed. "After all this time! What can I do to harm them?"
"You have been gone too long Sam. Your name has become... well...
infamous... especially among the younger generations. They seem to regard
you as... a hero."
"A hero?? Me??" Sam giggled. "I've been called many things before but
never a hero."
"It's no laughing matter Sam," Sophia said seriously. "Many things have
happened since your exile. The Council is not the entity it once was. Power
struggles between the Families and the Outsiders have reached almost lethal
levels. Infighting between the Great Houses has made the situation even
worst. The Old Ones remember you Sam. They remember what you did, and who
you were. In addition to that you are perhaps the only single figure that
the Outsiders still both fear and respect. The..."
"Sophia!" Sam broke in. "Please! I don't want to know! Just because I
have been absent does not mean that I have been keeping my head in the
sand. I know far more about the current situation than you can imagine...
And I don't give a fuck! It is not my problem! If the Council and others
want to rip themselves to pieces then as far as I am concerned they can go
right ahead. Frankly, the Games of the Immortals bore me to
tears. That is one of the reasons why I left. The younger races are far
more interesting and as long as the activities of the Council do not
interfere with them then..."
"You can't mean that!" Sophia exclaimed raising to her feet. "Not when
you were one of the original movers behind the Great Rebellion! In the name
of the Father Sam - it was your example that caused many of us to follow!
You can't mean to abandon it all now!"
"You don't really know me at all do you Sophia..." Samantha said very
quietly.
"Yes I do Sam," Sophia replied softly. "I knew from the very beginning
what He did to you..."
Something unholy flashed in the depths of Samantha's eyes - a flicker
of a memory that was brutally repressed. "That was a long time ago," she
said harshly.
"And still it corrupts what you were meant to be," Sophia stated calmly
looking at the young girl. She placed her hands on the redhead's shoulders.
"It always will - until you let it go."
Sam looked up at her old friend. Almost for an instant Sophia saw a
trace of the bright thing that Sam had once been flicker in the green
depths of her eyes. A flicker that was drowned in a sea of Darkness
almost the instance it appeared.
"We all have our crosses to bear," Sam said with an ironic smile and
stood up.
Sophia sighed and gently left the subject go. "Do you know that it is
happening again?"
"Yes, I know," Sam replied. "Michael told me."
Sophia was shocked. "Michael!?! But he..."
"Came to me for help. He wanted allies."
"Michael??" Sophia could not believe it. Michael? Of all things...
"That is why I came here Sophia - to warn you," Sam said calmly looking
at Sophia. "Michael is leading another Rebellion against Heaven, and this
time he will win."
Priss looked across the table at Nene and smiled nervously at her old
friend. It had been well over two years since Nene had married Mackie and
although Priss and Linna had not exactly been welcome to the
wedding they had followed Nene's life with interest. The young flighty girl
that Priss remembered was now a self assured and confident young woman. The
small child that she held protectively to her spoke far more of
that than anything else.
Both Priss and Linna looked at the young mother and the small girl
child and each felt the same strange emotion pass through them. A loss, or
perhaps it would be better to describe it as an incomplete need. It was
difficult to define as it was something that remained just below their
awareness.
Nene seemed unaware of the attention and was trying to stop the
overactive toddler from playing riot with the toys that Nene had bought
with her to the caravan. She picked up the toddler and sitting her on her
knee turned to her old friends.
"Linna, Priss - how are you? How have you been?" That was the best that
Nene could think to come up with considering the circumstances.
Linna smiled and tried to break the uncomfortable feeling that Nene
seemed to be under. "Oh Nene..." she hesitantly reached out and hugged her
old friend. After a moments hesitation Nene returned her old friend's warm
hug.
"Linna..." she muttered softly as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Gods,
how I have missed you all..." She clung tighter to Linna and Priss came
over as well.
"Tadaima!" a young voice suddenly exclaimed as the caravan door banged.
"I'm back!" Sam said as she walked into the small room.
"Oh! Sorry!" she said as she saw the three. A faint blush came to her
face. "I..."
"Sam," Linna waved her over. "I want you to meet a very old and dear
friend of ours, Nene. Nene - this is Sam."
Nene stared at the young redhead standing at the entry to the small
area. She saw the hesitant expression on the girl's face and smiled. "Hello
Sam," she said and as far as the toddler allowed held out her hand.
Sam looked at the hand and the baby. "I am pleased to make your
acquaintance Nene," she took the hand and shook it. "I am sure that your
family and I will become good..." she paused for a moment and a fleeting
alien expression crossed her face, "...companions." She finished with a
bright smile.
Nene was slightly confused for a moment and then she laughed. "You are
a funny girl Sam. I think I will like you."
Sam tilted her head and giggled. "I try," she said sitting down
cross-legged on the floor.
Linna was not sure what the heck was going on but at least the two
seemed to be hitting it off. Well, to business. "Nene," she began. "I need
to ask a favour of you. It's about Sylia..."
Nene sighed, "I thought it might be. She contacted Mackie earlier today
and boy was she livid about something."
"I think that was me," Sam replied a little guiltily. "I got a bit
carried away when she came around shooting her mouth off."
"You?!?" Nene's tone was slightly incredulous. "How the hell?"
"Nene!" Linna broke in. "Please, lets get back to the matter at hand."
"Ah, right," Nene looked at Sam one last time and then shifting to face
Linna she continued with her story. "You may or may not know that Sylia has
still been running the Knight Sabers even after you left.
She..."
"Nene!" Priss spluttered looking pointedly at Sam.
"Ops..." Nene said as she just realized the information that she had
given out.
Sam did not seem to be concerned with what Nene had just blurted out
and simply waited for her to continue. Nene shot a glance at Linna who just
shrugged.
"Ah... Right, about 2 weeks ago Sylia had reports that Genom was
undertaking a lot of unusual activity in one of the abandoned areas where
old Tokyo was flooded by the quake..."
"What kind of activity?" Priss broke in.
"She did not know," Nene answered. "She sent... some specialist agents
to check. They... died." Nene swallowed as she remembered the rather
graphic description that she had overhead.
"How did they die?" Sam asked. "From the way you said that I gather
that it wasn't a pleasant ending."
"Ah, no," Nene jiggled her now sleeping toddler. "They were... torn
apart."
Sam sat back and looked thoughtful. "Boomers?" she asked.
Nene shook her head. "From the information I overheard - it was far too
deliberate. It was done for pleasure and there was also other...
violations."
"Violations?" Linna repeated. "You mean they were raped?"
"That is one way of putting it," Nene swallowed. "I don't know all the
exact details but... I know that Sylia described it as unholy, whatever
that means..."
"Unholy?" Priss asked. "When the hell did Sylia get religious?"
"I don't think she meant it quite like that Priss," Sam replied softly.
"When did this happen Nene?"
"I don't know. I only know that Sylia contacted Mackie about it today."
"Then that will be why she came here," Sam looked at Linna. "She needs
troops, I bet you."
"Possibly," Linna mused. "Priss, Sam, Nene - do we want to become
involved in this? If we contact Sylia then as Sam suggests we may all
become involved in something that sounds very... messy. Are each of
you sure?"
"Hey!" Nene exclaimed. "Don't look at me. My days of fighting the bad
guys are over. I have a family now and that is all I ever want. I will
contact Sylia for you but that's it."
"Well you can count me in!" Sam scrambled to her feet with excitement
in her eyes. "It sounds like a great Game! Even if it's..."
"Well you can count me out!" Priss stated adamantly. "I have absolutely
no bloody intention of doing anything for that bitch!"
"Priss..." Linna began but then saw the woman's face and she sighed.
"Ok, I guess I can understand. Then it's just you and me Sam. Nene, can you
arrange for a suitable neutral meeting point with Sylia. Personally, I no
longer trust her at all but I do trust you."
Nene nodded feeling a little sad that their group had ended up coming
to this. "I'll do it as soon as I get home and speak with Mackie."
Sam grinned in anticipation and then a faint growling sound came from
her. Linna and Priss looked at her.
"Oh," she flushed. "Sorry, I haven't eaten yet..."
Linna shook her head slightly. "Teenagers..."
Sam and Linna sat on one side of the table while Sylia and another
unidentified woman sat at the other. Linna stared with extreme dislike at
Sylia and Sylia stared with contempt back at Linna. Sam and the other woman
might as well have not existed. The same went for all the noise that was
blaring out in this small private club that they had agreed to meet in.
Sam shifted nervously under the tension passing over the table. It was
fortunate that they were in a small private alcove off this dingy smoke
filled club that they had all finally settled on as the hate flowing
between the two woman was almost tangible. Sam wondered if the two woman
would even have noticed the presence of anyone else. She looked over at the
other woman. This was getting nowhere she had to do something to break this
stupidity. Well, in for a penny...
"So, are each of you finished contemplating each others beauty? Because
I would like to get down to business," she looked meaningfully at the other
woman.
"Yes," the other woman followed up on her look. "Staring at each other
all day is going to achieve nothing. Sylia, we have matters that need to be
addressed. We are not here to go over ancient history."
Sylia shot the woman an angry look and her face was flushed. The other
woman simply continued to stare calmly at her until Sylia's intellect began
to override her emotion.
"You are right Yoko," she finally acknowledged shooting one last glance
at Linna. "We are here to deal with more important circumstances." She took
a deep breath and turned back to the business at hand. "Linna, there is no
point in pretending that either of us do anything but hate each other.
However, please listen to me before you answer."
"She'll listen," Sam answered for Linna. "Just tell your story from the
beginning."
Sylia pursed her lips and glanced at Sam. "Very well, two weeks ago I
started to monitor some very strange goings on at the highest levels of
both Genom, civil, military and government authority. Interaction was
happening between departments that had never talked before, sequences of
high level meetings, government heads and ambassadors. In general something
major seemed to be afoot. Something that was so clandestine that absolutely
no information was being kept on what was happening. By gathering all the
titbits that I could lay my hands on I discovered that there appears to be
some sort of secret war going on. Not just here in Japan, but in other
major countries around the world. Who the enemy are or what the nature of
this war is I could not find out. The only concrete bit of information that
I was able to confirm was about a raid that was going to be made on what
was called an enemy hideout, here in Tokyo. I had the location and the
time, so I sent...." Here Sylia's recital broke out as the woman recalled
those friends that she had sent to such an unexpectedly brutal death.
"It was my team that went in," the woman called Yoko spoke up her voice
a cold shard. "I was still recovering from some other injuries otherwise I
would have gone with them..."
"And ended up dead as well," Sam finished. "What information do you
have about what happened to them, and more importantly what do you want of
us?"
The casual dismissal of the death of her friends earned Sam a black
look from Yoko. Sam returned it calmly and waited for the information to be
given.
"What happened to my people... was unholy..." Sylia said with a
shudder. "They were... violated... and..."
"I'm sorry," Sam muttered. "Please, you do not need to go into painful
detail..."
"Bits of them were missing," Yoko said in a dead voice. "I could not
even try to identify who was who..."
"And you need Linna and Priss to replace them, right?" Sam said in a
quiet voice.
Sylia paused, "I need people I know. I don't trust Linna and Priss
anymore, but I know what they are capable of and I know them."
Linna slammed her fist down on the table causing them all to jump. "You
stupid bitch! You blame us for something that was your bloody mistake! And
now you expect us to jump to your call and start it all..."
"Linna!" Sam's voice was like ice and cut across her triad.
Linna slowly turned to look at Sam with a rage that threatened murder
until she saw Sam's eyes. Her rage slowly faded away at the expression of
cold contempt that burnt in those green depths.
"What exactly do you need of us?" Sam returned her attention to Sylia.
Sylia was slightly surprised by the expression of calm authority in the
younger girl's voice. This was not something that she was
expecting.
"Us?" Sylia questioned. "Why should I include you? You have absolutely
no..." Her voice faltered and cracked as the girl's expression very subtly
changed. An emotion that she very rarely felt passed through her - fear.
She swallowed, why should she be afraid of a teen-age girl? She tried to
get
a grip on herself and turn back to the task at hand. She attempted to pull
her eyes away from those of the girl but something about them held her
fixated.
"I..." she tried to speak but her voice was little more than a whisper.
"Sylia?" Yoko looked at her. "Are you okay?"
"I... Yes... I just need to..." her face flushed. Sam blinked and
suddenly Sylia was free.
"You were saying?" Sam asked innocently with a faint trace of a smirk
on her face.
Sylia shuddered, this girl was... something...
Yoko did not know what was going on but she carried on from her
companion. "We need you to be able to... replace those of us who were...
killed." Her expression became dark as she contemplated what she would do
to those who had killed her friends in such a... manner. "We need to find
out who was responsible and make them suffer."
"And the pay?" Sam looked at her. "Our services do not come cheap."
Yoko nodded, "you will be well paid. Of that you can be assured."
"And Sylia will lift her... vendetta against Priss and Linna," Sam
added. "That is the extra condition for Linna. Priss has decided that she
will never again be helping Sylia in any form. As for me - I too have an
extra condition that I will want for my services..."
"What do you mean about Priss?" Yoko interrupted.
"She has, let us say, declined any offer to do anything with Sylia ever
again," Sam shrugged. "I won't bother telling you her exact words but she
meant them. So I am afraid you only have Linna and me."
"You?" Yoko laughed. "What experience does someone like you have with
things like this? You are a child!"
Sam smiled, "never judge a book by its cover, Shintoyama Yoko-san. You
will never get anywhere like that. I can well 'handle things' as you put
it. If not, then you simply do not give me what I want."
"And what exactly is it you want?" Yoko asked.
"I'll let you know," Sam replied. "If I fulfil the bargain then I will
tell you. Agreed?"
"Very well," Yoko said. "We agreed."
"To all the conditions?" Sam pressed. "Bindingly?"
"I said yes didn't I?" Yoko said getting slightly annoyed.
"To anything?" Sam said with a smile. "Really?"
"Yes! Yes! Anything!" Yoko half snarled.
"Good," Sam said. "We have a bargain then."
Yoko still fuming slightly continued, "you need to..." She broke off as
Sam's eyes suddenly narrowed and she looked over Sylia's head at the main
entrance to the small club. Yoko followed her gaze and
after a moment so did Linna and Sylia.
"What's the matter?" Linna looked at Sam.
"Shhh," Sam said and looked at the entrance. Again all their eyes
followed Sam's expectantly waiting for something to happen. They did not
think how strange this was, they just waited. And that wait was
rewarded. Three figures entered the club, two men and one woman. They took
a moment to survey the smoky club. Their eyes moving with a purpose until
they finally settled on the small alcove.
"Oh shit..." Sam muttered. She looked at Yoko and Sylia. "Are either of
you carrying a gun?"
Yoko frowned but the earnest expression on the redhead's face made her
nod and move her hand to the concealed weapon she had. Her body tensed as
the three started to walk purposely towards the alcove.
"FIRE!!!" Sam suddenly leapt to her feet and screamed. "FIRE!! HELP!!
FIRE!!"
The reaction from the others in the club was a mixture of surprise,
panic and shock. For a moment the three figures looked surprised as well
and then as the others in the club began to react to the panic in Sam's
voice they rushed forward.
"Yoko!" Sam yelled throwing herself at the three figures. Her insane
full on tackle caught the three totally by surprise and Sam succeeded in
knocking two of them to the ground. "FIRE!! RUN!!! GOOO!!"
Yoko drew her gun and rushed forward as the three began to recover. One
of them managed to throw Sam off and scramble to their feet.
"Sam!" Linna cried out and executing a drop kick attacked the woman.
Linna's foot impacted with the woman's neck just like she had planned but
the result was like nothing she could believe. Her foot impacted flesh and
she felt bones give way. The woman however only swayed slightly and then
with a speed that seemed impossible grabbed Linna's foot and threw her
across the bar.
"NO! LINNA!" Sam yelled out and with a snarl of rage the girl threw
herself at the woman.
By now Yoko had her weapon trailed on the other two. "Freeze!!" she
screamed.
Sylia was on her feet her eyes focused disbelieving at the fight
going on between Sam and the other woman. Sylia had seen experts at unarmed
combat before, even trained with them but nothing - nothing - she had ever
seen matched the sheer speed and ferocity with which these two exchanged
blows. The two of them were what could best be described as a blur of
motion, of attack and counterattack. Sylia could not even begin to follow
the movements that each opponent made. It was simply... inhuman...
The two figures that Yoko had covered were also watching the fight.They
did not seem to be overconcerned about the gun being aimed at them but more
with the battle between Sam and their comrade. Neither Sylia or Yoko saw
the mistake when it happened. Neither of them appreciated the slight
difference in balance that can be made when too much weight is applied to
one foot, but Sam could... and did. The woman never realized the slight
error she had made until a fraction of a second after she had made it.
However, by then it was too late. With a sickening crack Sam's stiffened
hand smashed into the woman's already damaged neck. The impact from the
blow picked the woman up and threw her some distance into the air.
Sylia's eyes followed the impact of the woman against a pool table.
>From the unnatural bend of the woman's neck Sylia knew that she must be
dead... Or at least that was what she thought until the "corpse" tried
to get up.
"Yoko! Sylia!" Sam shouted. "Get Linna and get the hell out of here!
NOW!!"
Yoko just stared at the lurching corpse. She could simply not believe
what she thought she was seeing. The two men she was covering noticed her
attention waver and leapt at her. The next moment saw Yoko screaming with
agony as one of the men held her easily aloft by one hand and slowly began
to crush the life out of her.
Sam spun at the sound of the screaming and her eyes narrowed. Slowly
she raised her hands and backed away. The man holding the still weakly
struggling form of Yoko smiled and almost as if testing the power he had
over the redhead gently shook the still twitching human. Sam's face flushed
with rage and she almost took a hesitant step forward. The man seeing the
reaction lifted the now limp form of Yoko higher and Sam froze. Satisfied
that his grip was sure he nodded for the other man to move forward. Sam did
nothing as the man grabbed her and twisted one arm behind her back.
"Good girl," the second man whispered into her ear lovingly as he
jerked the arm higher. Sam hissed in pain but still did nothing.
Slowly the first man lowered Yoko to her feet. He kept a close grip on
her throat as the second man guided Sam over to stand a short distance away
from him. He barked an order at the dead "woman". In response the "corpse"
reached up and slowly took hold of her head. With a sickening crunch the
woman jerked her neck back straight. The sound caused Sylia's already
nauseous stomach to throw up. The sick went over the floor and splattered
on the man holding Yoko. He flinched and automatically tried to move out of
the way. That distraction was all Sam needed.
With an explosion of movement she tore herself out of the grasp of the
second man and threw a seemingly impossible kick at the man holding Yoko.
He had only just begun to recognize the attack when Sam's foot connected
with his head. The skull shattered like a broken egg and rained the
sickening remains all over the female accomplice. Sam complete her insane
move and spun around to face the other two. The man looked as if he was
stunned by what Sam had just done and the woman was just standing as the
dripping remains covered her.
"I am within my rights to kill both of you and your Master for what you
have attempted here today," Sam hissed fixing both of the Enforcers with a
enraged stare. "You EVEN DARE to attack a nobleborn who has been granted
sanctuary..." Sam's teeth ground together as her rage built to almost
uncontrollable levels. "Arrain must be insane..." Her figures twitched and
she had to clamp down on the bestial instinct to shred these beings here
and now. She almost took a step forward when a groan from the
semi-conscious form of Linna reminded her of the humans. In a voice that
was completely dead she simply said, "leave."
The two remaining Enforcers looked at the target that their Master had
sent them against. To return a failure would be their deaths but... Each of
them could sense the almost impossible power that was radiating from the
young nobleborn redhead. Each of them recalled the legends that they had
heard about THIS one.... Their Master had been a fool to dismiss them. This
BEING was exactly as those impossible tales said... Slowly they moved back.
Death and torture for their failure would be an infinitely more desirable
future than what this... thing... would do. They fled.
Sam watched them go and a faintly malicious grin crossed her face.
Outside in the darkness things began to twitter... unholy... insane...
things. They listened for a moment as their Beloved Mistress told them
explicitly what do to. The twittering giggled in insane amusement and
slowly the swirling mass of living Darkness started after the two beings
that had run just past them. Sam grinned - Arrain would learn what it
meant to cross her will...
* * * *
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