C&C appreciated.
The idea of the Black Saber has been floating around in my head ever since I
read that BGC/Sailor Moon X-over. The one where Priss wakes up in Crystal
Tokyo a clone? That was the genesis for what follows and while the idea of a
fifth saber is nothing new, how the fifth saber enters the story is still, as
far as I know, largely a path not walked to completion.
Then late one night, I remembered a movie from a few years back and it
started me thinking. I'd like to do my original Black Saber idea someday, but
this one seems more interesting.
Wish me luck and you know where to send the C&C
--Komodo
And it's into the fire I go. . .
**********
January 5, 2036 . . .
"You made it back. Where's-"
"She. . .she didn't make it."
**********
January 5, 2039 . . .
"Who're you?"
"My name is Sylia, and I have a proposition for you Miss Agulari. . ."
**********
January 5, 2040 . . .
It was well after midnight on a winter's night and a dense fog, formed by the
exhaust of thousands of climate control systems had blanketed the nearly
deserted streets of the monolith known as Mega-Tokyo. At the corners, street
lamps shone, illuminating a small circle in which women dressed in clothes
that covered as little as possible turned and strutted, looking for one last
chance to make a little money before retiring for the night.
The small back bird, known commonly as a crow, winged and fluttered its way
through the urban jungle, a black ghost against the blacker night. With an
air of satisfaction the bird alighted on the rim of an empty trash can set
just outside the narrow circle of light that illuminated the mouth of an
alleyway set near a small skyscraper and cocked its head, yellow eyes peering
into the inky blackness of the alley.
Gradually, a soft shuffling could be heard and then a woman, her nude body
pale in the dim light, shuffled out of the alley's depths. She had thick
black hair her deep black eyes that were fogged over with confusion.
"Where?"
(Welcome.)
"Who? Who said that?"
(I did.)
"Where are you?"
(On the trashcan)
"But you're a-"
(There is no time for that. I have brought you back for a purpose.)
"A purpose?"
(Vengeance.)
**********
6 months later
A.D Police Headquarters, known affectionately as "the totem pole", is the
most advanced urban combat force in the civilian world. Utilizing the most
advanced weaponry and tatics known, these men and women are the best at what
they do.
"I can't believe those damn Knight Sabers beat us to yet another rogue boomer
incident again!" Leon MacNichol shouted as the impact of his gloved fist left
a spider web of cracks in the wall. "How do they do it?!"
"Perhaps they wiggle their noses," Said Daley Wong from behind him.
"Huh?"
"Before your time," Wong said as he stepped up beside Leon. "Suffice it to
say that its obvious that we need to change our tatics."
"No kidding," Leon growled. "I'm gonna get some coffee, you want anything?"
"No thanks," Daley replied as he leaned against the wall.
"Suit yourself," Leon said as he walked towards the vending machines at the
other end of the hallway. Shaking his head, Daley closed his eyes and allowed
himself to drift into a light meditative stance. Leon still had a long way to
go.
***********
January 5, 2041
It was a yearly ritual, one Sylia Stingray had adhered strictly to since this
night five years ago.
Never again, had been her silent vow. Never again would she let what happened
to Ayoka happen to the three girls who now wore the hardsuits.
Each year, she renewed that vow in a small ceremony before Ayoka's armor in a
secret room.
Tonight was the night, and Sylia, dressed in a white kimono, her hair tied
up, approached the concealed door with a single synthcandle in her hand,
ignoring the part of her that pointed out the fact that a hidden memorial was
sublimely ridiculous.
It probably was, but she could not let the others find out what happened.
They trusted her and she could not let them down. Never again.
Her hand rock steady, she slid the panel aside and tapped in the entry code,
causing the door to slide aside with a quiet hiss.
The eight by twelve room was just as she left it. Synthcandles lining the
sides, black curtains framing the empty rack.
The synthcandle in her hand clattered to the floor, her eyes wide and mouth
open in shock. She then screamed one single word.
"HENDERSON!"
It wouldn't be until after the arrival of the white haired butler, the only
one within her small circle who knew of her secret shame, that she would find
the small card emblazoned with the image of a bird in flight.
***********
"Is MacNichol ready?"
"No my Lord," Wong replied. Dressed in a Monk's robe, the hood thrown back,
Wong stood in the middle of a circle of cowled and hooded figures, each one
standing under a cone of light. "He still maintain his faith in more. .
.earthly matters."
"If our sources are correct and he is the Tracker, he must be made a part of
Le Circle and soon. Crow has resurrected another soul and the Tracker is our
only hope of finding it, and through it, Crow."
"What if we're wrong?" Wong asked, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
"Excuse me?"
"What if this Crow isn't some wizard or sorceress resurrecting souls and
sending them on missions of vengeance? What if we're dealing with something
more. . .primal?"
"Are you suggesting that etheric forces are at work?"
"It's entirely possible My Lord. We're obviously not dealing with any known
form of Necromancy, which leaves either a new kind of Necromancy, the etheric
beings, or something even further up the Plane then we have knowledge of. In
fact My Lord, I would go so far as to suggest that we may be dealing with a
Divinity here."
"You go to far Wong."
"Of course My Lord, it was, after all, a mere suggestion. Still, since this
is the first time Crow has been heard from since the twentieth century, it
seems unwise not to consider every possible angle." For a moment, there was
silence.
"Very well, your . . .suggestion will be taken under advisement. You are
excused."
"Thank you My Lord," Wong said, pulling his hood back over his face and exitin
g the room.
***********
"He is brash."
"But wise. Our reluctance to admit to something outside our experience cost
us the president in eighteen sixty-five."
"We had no choice in the matter!
"We had every choice in the matter! Booth got free because we hesitated out
of fear!"
"Are you calling Le Circle cowards? We who have stood between this world and
the supernatural since before Rome and beyond? Yes, Booth was a mistake, but
we got him in the end."
"After he murdered our staunchest ally! Lincoln was the first of us to use
his public life to get as high as possible in America!"
"He was on the verge of revealing us to the world!"
"It would have been for the better! We wouldn't have had to manufacture
Vietnam otherwise! Hitler might be just a funny little man who's a footnote
in the history books instead of the symbol he became!"
"We acted on the information we had at the time!"
"Information which clearly foretold what would happen! We scorned when the
Socialists believed he could be controlled and yet we stood by and did
nothing! And then when we did do something, he was too well protected! We
spent the entire war reacting instead of acting!"
"That's enough! Are we children who point fingers or adults? Yes, Le Circle
has made some mistakes but we have learned from them and are wiser for it.
Despite his brashness, Brother Wong has raised one point that we cannot
ignore. This is the first time that Crow has been heard from in over forty
years. We have a perfect opportunity to understand who and what Crow is.
MacNichol will be made a member of Le Circle, he and Wong will lead us to
Crow, and we will succeed. That is all."
At that, the lights went out and then the only sound was sound of rustling
cloth as the Elders left the room.