This is the third installment in the Forgotten Tales series for
my BGC2090 supporting series.
And comments, critisms, flames etc welcome.
Cheers
Alex
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
Forgotten Tales III - A Darkling's Story
This story is part of the "Forgotten Tales" series set in the dark
world of 2090 BGC.
The name Bubblegum Crisis and characters there within are copyright of
Artmic & Youmex.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
--------------
This short story is in response to a few requests for more information
regarding both how the Noble Consort system works, and for more history
regarding Kelly Duval. I hope it helps.
* * * *
Location: London (alt)
Time: 3492, July 21st, 03:38
Amilee screamed as the Power bolt from her attacker tore
through her still flimsy shields and flew straight towards her.
Experience that had been born from many previous Challenges caused
her to instinctively Travel just as the blast from the girl who was
her enemy ripped through the temporal location that she had just
occupied.
Her opponent gave a muffled curse as the current reigning Consort
Traveled beyond her reach. With little effort she shielded herself
from the exploding city around her and turned her attention to trying
to track down her prey. She knew that it would not be an easy task.
Amilee had held the position of Consort for far longer than the girl
cared to imagine. The blue haired Noble was a cunning and Powerful
opponent and if she had gone to ground then digging her out would be
troublesome. The girl's eyes narrowed and slowly she began to call
upon her Power. A dark gapping wound appeared in the fire lit night as
the girl summoned a Portal through which she could track her quarry.
She still had great difficulty with the subtle uses of the Power that
were required for Travelling and found that for her at least Portals
were the only answer. Maybe once this was all over she could begin to
take the time to learn of such things...
The Portal of whispering Darkness collapsed into itself causing
yet more devastation on the burning city below. Fires, caused by the
Noble's battle, swept uncontrolled through the shattered ruins of
buildings and devastated parks. Here and there those humans who had
survived the living nightmare tried in vain to find shelter from the
flames. Most however fell victim to the demonic undead creatures that
now stalked the ruined streets howling for release from their torment.
It was a similar scene throughout the cities of the world. An
advanced civilization of billions had been crushed to a few scattered
remains in the space of less than a day. Only Luna and the Martian
colonies had escaped untouched when the hellish insanity had started on
Terra and all they could do was watch from afar as forces beyond their
imagining slowly slaughtered their home world.
It took a strength beyond what their leaders had believed
themselves capable of but slowly the colonies began to evacuate
survivors from the burnt out remains of their once great cities. The
evacuation process took many months and many colonists were lost to
the savage undead things that now impossibly roamed the remains of
their once great home world. Unliving things that attacked, feasted
and killed. However, with an effort that was almost legendary those who
could be saved were saved and Mankind retreated to their barren colonies
leaving their once beautiful home world in the tormented hands of the
Unliving.
With a clarity of purpose that came of desperation the great
leaders began to plan on how their race would now survive. Resources
were identified, schedules made and work started. A feeling of unity
unlike any the race had ever known before filled their people and for a
brief time anything and everything looked possible. It was then at the
height of their optimism that the Death Sickness struck.
It started in one remote sector on a small depot base on Luna. A
female worker suddenly collapsed and within moments died. The medical
officer on duty tried in vain to identify the cause of the fatality
but he could find nothing. The woman was placed into cold storage for
transport back to her family on Mars. Life went on, and a week later a
series of gruesome murders were reported. The victims had been savaged
beyond recognition by something unknown, something not human. The security
officer attached to the small base investigated and stumbled unknowingly
onto the nightmarish truth - the woman who had died had not stayed dead.
And neither did those she had killed.
The Death Sickness began to spread like wildfire and within just
two months of the first case breaking out complete civil chaos reigned on
Luna. Bands of survivors fought against the creatures and each other in a
desperate effort to escape the infected moon and flee to Mars.
The Martian authorities did what they could to stop the refugees
leaving but what action they took was too little and far too late. The
bright dream had just come to an unholy demise.
Within six months only the silence reigned supreme.
The silence and the Sickness were only a beginning. What was to
come would be far far worse and it would infect _everything_.
The Great War had just begun.
* * * *
Location: Althan City, Miya (alt)
Time: 2124, SnakeRise, 4 bells
Sam kissed Miza in a fond farewell and waving goodbye she threw
her bag in the back of her jeep and drove brusquely off. She had
finally decided. She was going to go ahead with it and damn Samantha's
opinion! It was her choice and she was going to do it! She _loved_ Amilee!
Loved her enough to try a Bond stronger than that of just Consort. It might
have taken her a long time to admit it to herself but now that she had she
was going to act on it! Amilee and her had been together for so long that
Sam could not imagine life without Amilee's comforting presence being there.
And so, despite what Samantha said about the ancient blue haired Immortal Sam
was NOT going to let Amilee down - not this time.
- Really Sammy? - Samantha's amused voice whispered through her mind.
- Humph! - Sam did not even bother replying. She knew that
Samantha was just trying to bait her. The Corrupter always hated it
when Sam would not go along with one of Samantha's "opinions". Indeed,
sometimes she wondered if Samantha had ever liked her at all. The
Corrupter _never_ had a kind thing to say to her. Oh yes, there were always
orders, demands, threats and complaints but that seemed to be all Sam
ever heard. Samantha never let her do...
- Now, now, Sammy - the Corrupter interrupted with a giggle. - That's no
way to talk about your beloved sister -
- ... - Sam grumbled as she changed gear and put her foot down hard on
the accelerator.
- Temper, temper... - Samantha muttered still amused.
- Leave me alone! - Sam exclaimed as she stopped at the corner looking for
any oncoming traffic. She had to meet Amilee and she would be damned
if she was going to let her "sister" stop her now!
- Of course my _dearest_ Sammy - Samantha replied. - Whatever you
want... -
Sam put the petal to the metal and did not comment any further. She had
far more important things on her mind
* * * *
Location: Tokyo (alt)
Time: 2109, December 25th, 12:38
A moment later, Amilee reappeared on top of a wind swept skyscraper
breathing heavily and holding her bloodied side to stop the wound
opening up yet again. Damn it! How did the girl get so strong?!
Amilee swallowed hard and then summoned her Power. Gasping slightly with
the pain that it caused her she spread a barrier around the Borders of this
world. A barrier that she prayed would keep her presence masked from her enemy.
"Fuck..." she swore softly as she brushed her matted blue-grey
hair away from her white face. Her red eyes glowed briefly for a
second as she healed the damage that her Challenger had done to her
body. It was pretty bad and took far more out of her than she had
hoped. By the time she had finished her hand was shaking but the
damage that her enemy's Power had wrought against her essence was
healed - that at least was something. Amilee gave a great sigh of
relief and fell back against the top of the building as the strength flowed
from her body.
"Oh Sammy..." she whispered regretfully into the darkness. The two
of them had been together for so long, ever since the day the little redhead
had first forced Amilee to see the truth of her own existence. And now...
now it seemed that it would all soon be tragically over. She could not believe
that this was happening. The girl who was Challenging her could not be
this strong - not in so short a time. It just could _not_ be!
She cursed softly and remembered the first time that she had ever
met the girl who was now trying to kill her. It seemed as if it were
only yesterday when the blue eyed child had broken down in Amilee's
arms and had then sobbed her broken hearted eyes out. Amilee still remembered
holding the youngest addition to her Beloved's Family as she had listened to
the child's broken voice blurt out the girl's lost confusion and NEED for
_Amilee's_ Chosen.
She could remember slowly explaining to the child just who Sam was and
the whimsical nature that the little redhead had. At first the child had not
believed her, would not believe her, but as time had passed and the redhead
had not appeared then the girl had had no choice but to accept what Amilee
had told her - just as Amilee had hoped.
In the time that followed the two of them had become as close as real
sisters. Amilee had taught the girl everything she needed to know about the
Power in order to survive and had even used her own position as Consort to
protect the child from other less "friendly" members of Samantha's merry little
band. At odd times, Amilee had even sensed the watching presence of her
Chosen - both the cold brooding presence of the Corrupter and the bright
warm presence of the one who Amilee really loved. At those times, Amilee had
sensed that _her_ "little one" seemed to be always just on the verge of trying
to say something, something that made the Immortal redhead almost nervous.
Amilee could almost guess what her Beloved was trying to get around to
asking and she knew the great pain that it must be causing Sammy to open up
like that. And so, Amilee had not pressed the issue, no matter how badly she
had wanted to. She knew Sammy was just not ready for that kind of pressure.
She knew how much Kay's betrayal had hurt her lover just as she knew how much
of the damage that _HE_ had caused to the redhead still bubbled just beneath
the surface of her Chosen's mind. For Sammy to have come as far as she had was
a testament to both the redhead's strength and Amilee's loving patience. And so,
she had waited, letting the redhead get the courage up to ask _the_ question.
In the end, the time had finally come when the girl she had been protecting
had been ready to leave the nest. This was not the first time that
Amilee had helped such a child Claimed and then forgotten by Sam but
Amilee had been very glad that she had known this girl. The blue eyed child was
sweet and innocent in a way that was rare in those who had been with the
Family for a long time and Amilee prayed that the girl would be able
to hold onto that innocence even with the pressures that came with the
Darkness. It was also rare for Amilee to _really_ care for one of those who
became a "sister" but this girl would be one of those few. When the two had
finally parted, it had been as _close_ companions rather than enemies.
And now that same child was trying to kill her just because Amilee had
what that child NEEDED.
* * * *
Location: Althan City, Miya (alt)
Time: 2124, SnakeRise, 8 bells
Sam stopped her jeep and turned off the engine. She looked down at
her watch and swore. She was running far later than she had originally thought.
The traffic on the roads today had been unusually hellish. However,
luckily she still had a few bells to go before she had arranged to met
Amilee and so hopefully she would be able to get all the shopping she
had come here to do done before _that_ time came.
She turned off the CD she had been listening to and slowly got
out. It was a bit of a narrow squeeze due to the car she had had to
park up against but finally slamming the door shut she set the alarm and
headed into the shopping complex. She had come here to pick up a very
special gift for Amilee. A gift that had been made by a mortal, a
simple gift, something that she hoped would symbolise the step that
she was just about to take.
- You're so silly aka-chan - Samantha commented as Sam walked into
the air-conditioned entrance.
- If you don't want to be part of this then fine - Sam huffed back.
- But will you at least go and annoy someone else for a change. I've had... -
- Annoying am I Sammy? - Samantha queried with a sarcastic laugh.
- That's a new one. I've never been called annoying before... -
- Oh please forgive me vai Dom De'Naime... - Sam drawled mockingly as she
headed for the escalator. Samantha was really beginning to get on her
nerves now. She had had more than enough problems coming to this point herself
without Samantha chipping in as well.
"Well, well, well - hello there cutesy," a man from a group of
youngish looking humans standing around at the top of the escalator called out
as she got off. Sam frowned at the jeering tone behind the comment and gave the
man a hard stare. By the looks of them they appeared to be from one of
the local street gangs. Generally harmless punks but sometimes having
a tendency for rash explosions of violence and not exactly the kind of
company Sam really wanted to keep today.
- Ah... Lunch... - Samantha perked up much to Sam's additional annoyance.
- Shall we have some fun with this world Sammy? -
- ... - Sam swore softly as she could feel Samantha's rising glee
at the approaching situation. Why now? She had to think quickly before
Samantha decided to take matters into her own hands. And it was then that
a most amusing little thought came to her mind, something that gave
_her_ some amusement for a change.
"The prey must doom themselves," she suddenly announced in a clear
voice to the young man who had so rudely addressed her. "Don't be prey
little one."
The young man frowned as something about the _beautiful_ young
girl's cold expression told him that he would be better off playing
with someone else. He shuddered slightly as the girl's lips seemed to
curl mockingly and a sick hunger flashed in her darkening green eyes.
He jerked back and much to his shock found that he was sweating.
"I... I'm sorry!" he suddenly exclaimed and much to the astonishment
of his fellow peers bolted off at great speed. The others shot Sam a confused
look and then hurried off after him.
- Sammy... - Samantha said in a disappointed tone. - Why did you just
do that? -
- Because I wanted to annoy you for a change - Sam sniggered back
as she moved off to pick up her present for Amilee leaving Samantha to
mutter darkly to herself. Sam giggled, it was not often she got
amusement out of Samantha but it did happen - sometimes.
* * * *
Location: Tokyo (alt)
Time: 2109, December 25th, 14:48
- Sam... - Amilee tried to call her Beloved but she was still too
weak to reach out beyond this Realm and touch that distance warm
presence. There seemed to be some form of barrier that was stopping
her from contacting her little one. A barrier that was cold, alien and
yet oddly familiar. Amilee tried several times to force her way
through it but she had no success - it was just far too strong, even
for her.
- Sammy! - Amilee yelled out putting all the intense feelings that
she had for her Chosen into a single blast and prayed that somehow her
lover would pick up something... anything...
- ... - a faint inane giggling seemed to reply to her desperate
call.
Amilee's eyes widened in shock and a feeling of sick horror rolled
through her as it slowly dawned on her what that giggle meant. She know
understood where her sister/opponent had gotten her incredible strength
from and most of all why her beloved Sammy could not hear her desperate
cries.
- Samantha... - Amilee whispered in horror as she realized that it was
her intense love for _her_ Sammy that had been what had signed her death
warrant. Her redhead loved her too much and for the first time Samantha saw
Amilee as a threat. Not so much a threat to Samantha herself but a threat to
the Corrupter's manipulation of her other "saner" half.
Amilee shuddered as she cursed herself for a fool and a dead fool
at that. She had long known that Samantha _loathed_ that part of herself
which Amilee loved so much but she would _never_ have imagined that the
Corrupter would deliberately take an action that would cause Sammy to
collapse into her inner madness yet again. Not even Samantha would...
- I 'annoy' her - Samantha suddenly giggled into Amilee's mind before
totally cutting off all contact and leaving her Consort completely alone.
Amilee felt the tears begin to flow down her face as she wept not so
much for herself but for what would happen to the fragile sanity that Sammy
had managed to rebuild in her life once Amilee was gone.
"Oh Sammy..." she whispered in sorrow as she now knew that she
would never again see her Beloved or be able to feel those silky caresses...
"Sammy..."
Never again to hear that soft musical voice call out her name in the
heat of passion...
"Sammy..."
"Sammy..."
Amilee also cried for the one who Samantha was Playing for the ultimate fool,
the child that she had originally helped so long ago, the child who was now going
to kill her.
Amilee felt the barriers that she had erected around this Realm
flutter as the child's Power touched upon them. She swallowed and
shakily got to her feet. She raised her hand and with an abrupt
movement dried her eyes. She knew that she was probably going to die
and that in a straight fight her chances would be slim in the extreme.
However, she WOULD NOT just roll over and die! For Sammy's sake, for
her sake, she had to survive! She had to win!
A shimmering started only a few meters away from her and Amilee
summoned what little remained of her Power as a fiercely determined
expression settled on her face. Her red eyes slowly turned black and her
blue-gray hair crackled with a black glittering energy.
"Sammy..." Amilee whispered her Beloved's name one last time. "I'm
so sorry... I will miss you - my most Beloved. Oh, how I will miss
you... And... you were right - I was alone before you came. Thank you...
I..." Her words were suddenly cut off as a blast of Power engulfed her body.
The orgy of destruction started once more as both opponents pushed
themselves to the ultimate of their respective Powers. Both _had_ to win!
There was simply no other possible choice....
* * * *
Location: Althan City, Miya (alt)
Time: 2124, SnakeRise, 14 bells
Sam frowned for a moment and wondered just where the hell Amilee
had gotten too. Her Beloved had said that she would meet Sam here and
Amilee was never, ever late. Sam pursed her lips and with a faint sigh
she finished off her orange juice.
Today was the day. After so long, today was when she would finally
ask the question she knew Amilee had been waiting so long to hear. So
why then had Amilee not shown up? Why? Why did her precious one have to
be late today of all days?
Sam sighed again and then gave a faint smile. "Good old Murphy,"
she said as she held up her hand for yet another orange juice. Just at
that very moment she suddenly shivered as if someone had just walked over
her grave - if such a thing were possible. She rubbed her bare arms
and shrugged. It was slightly cooler on this world anyway. May be that was...
A sudden _rush_ flowed through her body as the familiar sense of her
beloved Consort entered the small caf�.
"You're late Amilee you naughty naughty little gir..." Sam started to
chide her Consort with a smile as she turned to look up at her dearest.
"Sam..." the young girl standing only a few meters away said in an
anxious voice as she hesitantly reached out to _her_ Chosen. "I... love..."
Sam froze for a second as her mind took in the impossible sight
in front of her eyes. The impossible feeling that came only from her Consort...
- 'Annoying' was it Sammy? - Samantha giggled snidely. - Was that
the word you used? -
"Sam?" Kelly took a concerned step forward as the little redhead
suddenly grabbed her head in her arms and moaned out as if in great pain.
"What..."
The small world orbiting the insignificant yellow star flashed
briefly as the Power consumed it and the main sequence star it was orbiting.
The aftermath of the destructive release ripped through the time continuum
and started a chain reaction that consumed the rest of that young
galaxy in Darkness.
- Have I 'annoyed' you enough yet my _dear_ Sammy or shall we Play
some other Game like... -
* * * *
**End of A Darkling's Tale.