[FFML] [FANFIC][BGC] Frozen Butterfly Arc 2 Chapter 6 - Draft

[skychan]

Hello again, its nice to see the list has started to jump, its not really
like the old days but its getting closer.  Here's my draft of Chapter 6 of
Frozen Butterfly.  Please let me know what you think, and any C&C you might
have is more than welcome.  I'm a bit worried about slipping out of the
first person style I've been trying to maintain throughout the rest of the
story so if you catch a scene that is improperly written or in the wrong
tense don't be shy about letting me know.  Also this is the first time that
you will get to see actual interfearance with and interaction with scenes
from the OVA's and so I hope that I've done it justice.
Kelly,
Skywise,skychan.

Previuos chapters can be found at http://www.fanfiction.net/~skywiseskychan


Frozen Butterfly Arc 2 a story of Bubblegum Crisis

Chapter 6.0 – Tsunami Season

I was caught.  I don't know how Mason knew but he was after me again and
had laced my room with Nanites.  They covered my apartment waving like
cilia in the ocean, dipping and swaying  their thousands of fronds piercing
my flesh and sucking me dry until with a sky darkening laugh Mason stepped
into the warehouse, the brush of his foot ringing hollowly against my
metallic shell before pressing down inexorably upon my chest until I
shattered like an egg.  Unable to move, to breath to think, I bolted
upright the light of a new day shining through the window and into my eyes.
A nightmare… I lay back, taking long slow breaths as my heart rate
increased bringing with it full awareness and the return of rationality.

Somehow I had managed to forget that dreams went two ways.  It seemed like
such a win-win solution, intentionally reducing my heart rate during rest
so I could dream and wake slowly to the light while at the same time
reducing the strain on my systems and conserve my blood supply.  Checking
quickly, *fluidics at 77.5% *I sighed.  Nightmares or not I would have to
keep my sleeping pulse rate low if I wanted to survive, nightmares just
another price I would have to pay.

My morning routine seemed to drag onward.  Maybe I could call in sick,
claim to have the flu… it was certainly starting to feel that way.
Unfortunately
I didn't have any sick time saved up yet.  Dam it, I was a transfer
employee, couldn't Nene have at least been nice enough to give me some sick
leave?

I wasn't hungry, or at least didn't feel in the mood to eat.  Skipping
breakfast made me feel more a part of humanity than I had in a week as I
joined the rest of the drones on my way in to work.  The crush of the
subway didn't bother me as it usually did.  The concentrated pheromone's of
its passengers a muted presence and my autonomous response seemed almost as
detached.  If nothing else about the morning had been a concern that raised
the red flag high for me.

I spent the morning intentionally cheerful, the last thing I wanted being
to draw my co-workers attention.  I treated myself to a whole grapefruit at
lunch.  I still didn't feel like eating but the alerts and warnings were
starting to get to me.  Adding an extra two drops of sweet oil as desert
helped.  Cranking my metabolism up another three beats a minute on my way
to the gym helped even more and had me feeling almost normal as I met Nene
at the door.

With a smile I touched her hand briefly, giving it a squeeze in welcome, no
words needing to be said as we headed inside.  I'm not sure if it was due
to my good planning or Nene's habitual reluctance to exercise but we were
among the last to arrive.  It was easier this time to change with all the
others doing so around me.  Perhaps I've managed to absorb some of the
Japanese ability to be alone in a crowd.

Detouring on my way into class I pulled Linna aside.  "I'm not feeling the
best, a little under the weather so I might not be able to keep up…" my
posture subliminally shaped to play upon her conscience.  Really that’s a
good thing as no matter how I was feeling I still looked like a thousand
bucks, or more reasonably the roughly sixty million yen of my original
price tag.

She frowned slightly but nodded, "Alright, try to keep up but if you can't
don't push yourself.  You should probably get a checkup; if your prostheses
aren't balanced right it could be causing you problems."  I could tell she
wanted to say more, or perhaps lecture me but the rest of class had
finished filing in while we talked.  With a polite little bobbing kowtow I
retreated to the back of the class.

Taking my place between Nene and Irene I realized I wasn't the only one
having a rough day.  While Nene was as chipper and perky as ever Irene
looked awful.  There were dark circles beneath her eyes and a depressed
pall hung over every motion, but before I could ask class started and she
threw herself into it with abandon.

For my part I paced myself, keeping a sharp eye on my energy use to
production ratios.  Once I was sure I could keep up with the class without
deleterious effect I sped up, much to Nene's chagrin as she had been
matching my pace rather than Linna's and I could feel her accusing gaze on
me complaining about the loss of her excuse to slack off.  I of course just
gave her a cheerful smile in response.

On the other side however Irene was like a dervish.  She was throwing
herself into every exercise and pushing hard enough to make up for Nene and
my slack pace.  As class ended at least six eyes were watching Irene with
concern but she just shook off my light touch hurrying into the locker room
when I asked "Are you alright?"  Leaving behind a concerned if sweaty and
tired duo along with Linna who was still almost sickeningly fresh.

Newly showered and dried I leaned against the lockers waiting for Nene to
finish getting dressed, the cool metal of the locker against my back a
relaxing sensation, and one I concentrated on keeping my eyes closed, and
hoping Nene mistook the reason for that as relaxation not bashfulness.  The
strangers around me were no problem, but catching sight of Nene coming out
of the shower had made me seriously doubt that I had made any progress
earlier that day in acclimating to my new situation.

"Say Ne-chan, oh goddess, gift to mankind, and computer guru…" not a very
unique attempt to butter someone up but then I wasn't trying to be subtle.  "I
ah, think I could use your help again."  Feeling the glower she shot me I
peeked my eyes open grinning a little to see the mock sternness of her
gaze, my introduction as obvious to her as myself, oh and her pink
bra.  Quickly
shutting my eyes again I went on.  "You know how my apartment is so nice,
and big, and… temporary?  Well I think Genom is getting ready to plow us
under.  I know they have to give two days' notice but I noticed a
construction trailer at the end of the street today so it's just a matter
of time."

Nene's answer was hesitant *indications subject anxious about topic 87% *"Um,
I'm sorry I would put you up, really but, I just can't."  Her eyes and face
were downcast as I opened mine once more a bit surprised by her assumption,
and a little concerned why she couldn't have a roommate.  Her denial seemed
far more absolute than I expected and somehow out of character for her.

Feeling slightly hurt I hurried to assure her that my favor wasn't anything
of that sort.  "Oh, that isn't really what I meant at all."  I was relieved
to see her relax, the ribbon her fingers had been unintentionally knotting
released to hang smooth again.  "I just wanted to ask you to help me
apartment hunt for a new place, and maybe be a character reference.  I
mean, having one of the all-powerful AD police vouch for my integrity has
to count for something right?"

Letting out a relieved laugh the tension draining from her I wondered just
why she would have been so apprehensive about living with me.  Nene opened
her mouth to answer when we overheard a soft sob from the showers.

Exchanging worried glances we rose as one and moved to investigate.  We
were just about the last to finish changing; Me because of my own efforts
to keep to myself and Nene because of her slavish hedonistic devotion to
worship the endless supply of hot water in the showers.  Even so when we
reached the showers we found one more.

Irene stood in the end stall slumped against the wall as her shoulders
heaved and stifled tears dripped down her cheeks.  Her skin was pale and
pruned from standing under the shower and I had to gently coax her out of
the stall.  Nene grabbed a towel as I drew Irene into a gentle hug heedless
of the water soaking into my cloths.

A few moments and feet later we drew her down onto one of the benches, my
grip only loosening to allow Nene to tuck her into the folds of a fluffy
green towel.  "Irene, hey, are you okay?"  I admit not the most original
thing to say but I wasn't really sure what to do in this situation, and for
once my inner voice wasn't pelting me with suggestions of how to use sex to
solve everything.

She was quiet for a few moments, just huddling against me as she took
slowly deepening breaths, pulling herself together as Nene stood at her
side shooting me concerned glances full of questions to which I had no
answer.

Finally Irene spoke.  "Kenshiro's dead," her voice a soft, pain filled
whimper.  It only took a moment before I placed the name, her fiancé.  Giving
her another slight squeeze of support it was as if a dam that had been
holding back her words burst and she began to speak with a nervous, sobbing
furious intensity.

"They killed him.  They say it was an accident, an 'unfortunate accident'
but I know better.  He told me that they had moved him to a new project,
one that he couldn't talk about but he was scared.  I could see it in his
eyes, the pressure he was under.  When he told me that they were done, that
yesterday was going to be the last day and he could come back to me they
murdered him to keep it all quiet!"

Patting her on the back I was about to speak up but Nene beat me to it.  "Who?"
she asked, the question pulled almost unwillingly from her lips as we both
knew who it had to be, we just couldn't bring ourselves to voice it yet
paradoxically needing to hear it from her lips.

So we did.  "Genom, those bastards!" her voice held a vehemence I've never
heard before.  "When I confronted that bastard Mason he didn't even deny it
just hid away behind those damn boomers of his."  That statement shot cold
water down my spine.

Mason, I knew that name, I knew that face.  It still haunted my thoughts,
and if what Irene had said was anywhere close to the truth he might not be
done cleaning up yet, or worse if she went after him he might, might go
after her too.  I'm not a brave person by nature, and the thought of being
there if Mason decided to 'clean up loose ends' terrified me.

While Nene tried her best to reassure Irene that we were there for her,
that we would do something, get the police involved or private detectives
to look into it all I could do was hold Irene close, the shaking from her
grief concealing my own fear induced shiver.  To my shame my thoughts
concerned more for myself than my friend until Nene spoke up once more in
response to something Irene said as I wasn't paying attention.

"We are NOT leaving you alone right now Irene.  Look, why don't you get
dressed.  We're going to treat you to a nice meal, and then movies, and ice
cream.  We won't take no for an answer, will we Kari?"

And just like that I knew what to do and what to say.  "Yes, we're here for
you, it's what friends are for."  I swallowed the lump in my throat,
burying the cowardice that had almost made me abandon her.  Genom was
powerful yes, Mason was scary, but right now, right now Irene needed us,
and even if sex wasn't the answer to her problem that didn't mean I was
useless.  I could still be there for her, to support her and Nene, and if
all else failed to share her pain.  At least I could be her friend.

It took a quarter hour to get her dressed and moving again, but at least
once we had her moving she didn't slip back into her previous despair even
after being left alone in the restroom.  Taking the chance Nene and I
huddled.

"We can't leave her alone."  I said, glancing over my shoulder towards the
stalls as if it weren't already obvious who I was talking about.

"I agree, she needs friends, and someone to look out for her…" biting her
lower lip adorably Nene suddenly smiled.  "Jan Ken Pon to see who looks
after her?"

I stifled a little laugh, rock paper scissors might be just a child's game
in the US, but the Japanese take it seriously.  I even read once about how
two different auction houses had to compete with Jan Ken to decide which
one won the right to sell a load of antiques.  With a nod my hands were in
position and taking Bart Simpsons advice I threw rock.  Nothing Beats Rock,
and thankfully Nene was born too late to know that throwing scissors.

"Don't worry, I've got it covered, I'll call you if anything happens."  Looking
up into Nene's emerald green eyes I gave her my best self-confident grin
and a thumbs up.  We parted way's at the tube station back to Irene's
apartment, giving Nene a wave before disappearing into the subway once more.

"You don't have to do this for me Kari san, I'll be fine really…" Irene
tried again as we neared her stop but I wasn't having any of it.  I could
tell* subject lying 87% likely* from her tone she was only being polite and
seeing the fragility behind those rich brown eyes there wasn't a question
any longer about what I would do.

"You can't get rid of me that easily."  I laughed a little at her
confusion, another phrase out of time and place I suppose.  "I mean it, I'm
your friend and it isn't an imposition.  If anything I should be
apologizing to you for accompanying you like this.  I hope that you do not
mind the intrusion?"  Making it a question was the right move.  She seemed
a bit taken aback as we exited the subway and started for the stairs.

"Oh, no, not at all, I would be happy to have you over, I just, I don't
want to be a bother."  Pausing at the top I took her hands and looking up
into her eyes I shook my head slightly trying to impress the seriousness of
my offer even while jealously measuring the inches she had on me, she must
have been five or six full inches taller!

"It is not a bother."  My tone firm, and using the most formal and serious
of tenses to ensure that she fully understood my sincerity.  Breaking into
a smile I released her hands and added in a much lighter tone.  "Besides,
I'm about to be kicked out of my apartment and I'm going to need a place to
stay.  Who says I'm not just using this as an excuse to scout out yours?"

That brought a genuine laugh for the first time since it had gotten dark
enough for streetlights and she responded incredulously, "You're really
getting kicked out?"

"Oh yes, I got a nice place but it's in a development zone and I'm
expecting the eviction notice any day."  I was so focused on Irene that I
almost didn't notice the sudden flare of headlights in time.

We were just passing through one of the transition areas from retail to
residential, walking under a highway overpass.  The growl of a large engine
echoed louder and it was almost too late when I realized the luxury sedan
wasn't just driving fast, but coming straight at us.

Instantly I could feel the world starting to slow, and my pulse starting to
race.  *Warning, systems unable to maintain accelerated operation
mode,*ignoring that warning and others that vied for my attention I
pushed myself
hard overriding the errors ruthlessly with a small part of my mind even as
I reached out and snatching Irene and pulled her behind one of the support
pillars with bare inches to spare.

With the squeal of tearing metal the car sideswiped the pillar, abused
concrete cracking as chunks were blasted free by the impact.  Rubble
tumbled into the street even as the car swerved away and into a rough turn
ahead of us.  The world still appearing to move in slow motion I had plenty
of time to watch the driver, a woman with her eyes hidden behind dark
glasses look over the results of her handiwork, a frown crossing her
immaculate lips as her gaze fixed on Irene and knew we had to run.

Matching actions to thought I didn't let up on my hold one bit as I tugged
Irene back the way we had come, *warning oxygen supply insufficient for
continued accelerated operations mode time to systems failure 00:04:32:12 *.
Even we ran the roar of a big V8 growled behind us, the car finishing it's
turn to come after us.

"Run!" I managed, sounding low and absurd to my ears, the command probably
unnecessary as beside me Irene was already moving as fast as she could.  It
felt as if we were stuck in molasses, the car inexorably gaining on us and
I knew we couldn't beat it on foot.  Splitting my thoughts I reached out to
my phone, engaging the Bluetooth functionality to send a desperate text
message off to Nene, and even though only a handful of seconds passed I had
more than enough time to describe the situation in full, our location, and
ask her to dial 911.

Thankfully just beyond the underpass was a set of stairs leading up.  We
reached them just in time to avoid the returning car.  Dashing up them the
sedan slammed on its brakes shimmying to a halt.  Lurking there silently we
continued to run.  I didn't know how long I could keep this up, and from
the frantic butterfly pulse beneath my fingers neither could Irene.

My phone began to ring, but it was Nene and I didn't have the time to
answer it in any case so I texted a response on the fly – Galatea: Can't
talk, running for life, get help, call police!  Once more my ability to
multitask was priceless as we paused panting for breath at the top of the
stairs.

I could feel myself starting to speed back up, systems just unable to
maintain the accelerated pace, but let it happen, losing the crystal
clarity of the moment, the thudding of my pulse like a machinegun in my
ears as I looked for somewhere else to run, or hide.  Irene didn't even
wait long enough to catch her breath, hand slipping free she was already
running down the raised street towards downtown.

Painfully I took off after her, panting as I yelled out seeing what she
hadn't.  "Wait, Irene, there's an onramp, Stop!"  Unfortunately when I
caught up to her the next set of stairs was still a hundred meters away and
by the time she stopped we were caught right in the middle of them as the
hateful but now familiar roar of our pursuit echoed around us as the sedan
came barreling up the ramp to join us.

Turning we ran back the way we came Irene tripping just meters short of the
stairs down.  I whipped my head back watching the car rushing to catch us
much too quickly.  Panicky I reached down trying to help Irene to her feet.


The woman's car squealed to a halt opposite us, only the concrete lane
barrier left between us.  As I managed to haul Irene up, the coppery scent
of blood from her skinned knees caught my nose as if a harbinger, the car
door swinging wide and a shapely feminine leg lead the way out.

I swallowed nervously as the female boomer stepped from the car.  Long
trench coat billowing slightly in the wind as its head turned to regard the
pair of us, my frightened expression reflected perfectly clear in its
sunglasses.  Even now I could feel that alien strangeness, the asexual
quality that advertised the woman's true nature loud and clear to my
instincts but was so attractively disguised by it's shape.  Moving with
predatory grace toward us it vaulted the barrier without even breaking
stride.

"Irene, run, run now" my voice was soft, eyes never moving from the woman,
boomer that was coming ever closer.  I felt oddly calm even as claws ripped
free of its fingertips, malicious smile of glee crossing its lips.  This
was what it lived for, was born for.  Killing was this monsters passion.

Hanging onto the railing Irene gasped back "I can't, go, it's after me
just, save yourself."  Her words were wonderful; absolving any guilt they
should have been everything I needed to hear to run like the cowered I am,
to save myself.   I knew I could make it if I had to.  I could push my body
one last time, get away while, while this monster killed my friend.

That realization was what it took to change my mind.  *Warning system
unstable accelerated mode no longer…* With an effort of will I cut off the
ongoing internal warnings, bypassing the safety protocols and pushed myself
back into bullet time just as it began its charge.

Stepping forward, the wind moaning eerily I heard Irene begin to scream.  I
watched the enemy come setting myself firmly before it, thoughts and
strategies almost blazing across my mind.  Was I strong enough to block?
Would it even notice a punch, was it even now operating in the same mode as
me?

I never wished more that I knew martial arts or was at least a little bit
taller than in that seemingly endless moment as it brought razor tipped
fingers stabbing toward me.  And then I had a plan, if not a very good one.


I was already falling backward as the reaching talons pierced my stomach.  My
hands catching its wrist slowing the strike but I wasn't strong enough to
stop it completely.  Falling backward I just managed to twist my head aside
avoiding the second swing aimed at my head.

As our combined momentum shifted and my back struck the concrete roadway I
brought my foot up and planted it firmly against my attacker's hip.  Despite
the growing pain as momentum and gravity pressed her claws deeper I let out
a grunt of effort bent knee straightening almost explosively.

Irene was still screaming, and the hungry look on the boomer's face shifted
to one of shock as it's trajectory abruptly altered and it seemed to almost
float away from me.  As my skull hit the asphalt I smiled through the pain
watching it sailing over the guard rail.  That fall had to be at least
thirty feet.

Then my mind bombarded by error messages my vision greyed out and even my
processors lost track of time.  With a start I felt something wet on my
cheeks.  "Kari, please wake up oh god you have to be alright!"  Blinking my
eyes clear I saw Irene above me a look of terror on her face until I began
to move.

"I'm" *Warning fluidics level dropping, damage to abdominal cavity,
self-repair systems functioning at 32% time to full recovery unavailable,
time to stabilization 00:15:14:00 estimated, time until cessation of
systems without additional maintenance 84:15:00:00 estimated.  *

I had been about to say fine, but that wasn't what made it past my lips
"Bleeding."  Even to my own ears my voice sounded thready and weak.  Before
she could do much more to fuss over me or my fuzzy thoughts could put
together a question the sirens which I realized had been growing in the
background swelled, surprisingly loud with the arrival of police and dazed
minutes later an ambulance.

All the while Irene hovered over me protectively, her words of reassurance
tumbling from pale bloodless lips that I would be okay.  Even so and
despite my continued attempts to reassure her she just didn't seem to
believe me or herself.  Maybe it had something to do with the floating
feeling I had.  Almost like I was disconnected from my body and nothing
happening was really, real.

As the paramedics lifted me into the ambulance a second face joined Irene's
in looming over me with concern, the red hair coming into focus first I
heard something about 'protecting the witness' as she clambering into the
ambulance with us.  I tried to smile, but wasn't sure if my lips made it
when something pricked my arm and a familiar reassuring warmth began to
spread from the stinging wound.

I blinked as the first tendrils of new warmth reached my heart and the
world seemed to rush into focus, sounds crisp, colors sharp, and the smell
of antiseptic, copper, and iron filling my nostrils.  I could feel the
blood they were transfusing filling my veins with life, the vitality of it
shocking after weeks of slow decline.  Cells that had all but shut down and
withered away gaining new life with each beat of my heart.

"Ma'am can you hear me?" An EMT asked leaning close and watching my eyes
for movement.  In the background another voice speaking soft but quickly,
rattling off my improving vital signs.

Opening my mouth I had to try twice, swallowing between to get out my
answer.  "Yes, I can."

"What kind of augmentation do you have, we can't get any response from the
maintenance jack and need to know what we're dealing with to treat you."  At
the question I realized amid the many self-diagnostics and warning messages
that I had been receiving a hardline access request.  I let out a sigh of
relief.  If my maintenance port had been working they would have known just
what I was already.

Thankfully I had a cover story built into my MPI card, and it was
compatible with what treatment I really did need.  "TrueNature,
reconstruction," my response coming in fits and starts, the pauses
unfortunately not at all feigned as I had to gather my strength before each
little bit.  "Need blood, and…"

But seeing my difficulty and quite good at his job the medic nodded
pressing a finger to my lips, "Yes, specialized nutrients and additives to
your food to keep it from overwhelming your natural circulatory system.  You're
very lucky, with your injuries the additional strain from them could have
overcome you."

Behind him the second man pulled out a syringe and swapping out the nearly
empty blood pack for a fresh one used the additives nipple to inject
several CC's of a silvery gel into the mix before palpitating the bag to
mix it evenly.

As I watched him work I noticed a chill, and if not for my nature would
have blushed deeply as I glanced down and realized for the first time I was
naked from the waist up.  Well, that is if you discounted the pressure
bandages wrapped around my abdomen.  Apparently they don't fool around with
wound treatment and only now that I was stable enough to recognize the fact
did anyone seem to take notice of my state of dress.

Unfortunately the trigger of their notice was a subconscious and autonomic
response stemming from mine.  As the immediate threat of shutdown began to
subside the other hardwired responses built into my body went to work.
 Hopefully
the blush and blanket that quickly followed were because the EMT thought I
was cold…

Two units of blood were like heaven, unfortunately we arrived at the
hospital before they had a chance to go for number three, and I knew I had
to draw the line.  They might not have identified me in a moving ambulance
with emergency equipment but if they got me into the ER with a proper suite
of tools, no I couldn't go in there.

So, reluctantly as they pulled the stretcher from the back of the
ambulance, Nene and Irene following along at its side like remora I spoke
up.  "Stop, I, I refuse treatment."  Licking my lip I looked from one medic
to the other as their mouths gaped open.

"But, your hurt you need surgery, we already have you here…" it was obvious
the senior medic didn't know quite what to do with the situation.  Nene was
looking at me with concerned realization, her eyes widening even as Irene
began to protest.  "But, Kari, you have to, you got hurt, you could have
died, you still might die please, you have to let them help you!"

But I just shook my head interfacing with my phone to send a quick text to
Nene who was standing nearby her own disbelief quickly vanishing as her
mind worked through the same path mine had, and as she realized I was
afraid of being exposed as a boomeroids.  Eyes darting from her waist to
meet mine she slowly nodded as she reached down to check the buzzing phone.

The argument with the two medic's didn't stop there of course, neither one
willing to let an injured topless girl just walk away, and possibly die
when she obviously still needed help and might have ignored my request when
Nene spoke up her voice firm even if I could hear the uncertainty lurking
behind the official façade.

"Ceallaigh-san is quite correct and within her rights to refuse treatment.  She
is obviously in her right mind, her vitals are stable are they not, and for
you to continue to treat her against her wishes is a violation of the
law.  Just
because 'we'," and it was obvious just how much concern she still had over
my recovery from the inflection of that word "Don't feel it is the right
choice does not give us the right to overrule it."  She let out a breath
sagging down a little after her uncharacteristic speech.  Obviously her
position in the AD Police didn't call on her to use that authority very
often.

"Thank you Officer Romanova."  I smiled, giving her my best effort at
innocent eyes but from the set of her jaw I could tell it wasn't working to
reduce her concern or anger.

"You're welcome Ceallaigh-san, however you will be coming with me.  As
victim and witness to a boomer crime and not being held for medical
treatment there is no excuse not to."  The smile she gave me in revenge was
so guileless I swear butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

Unfortunately for all of us it was also loud enough that another pair of
officers heard her and so before I could object I was whisked away, skirt,
blanket, bloody shirt in a bag and all by Inspector's McNicols and Wong.

Wong wasn't too bad, in fact he was almost as comforting a presence as Nene
as the four of us rode back towards ADP headquarters.  It was fairly
obvious he wasn't interested in me either, unlike his partner who had
adjusted the rearview mirror, probably in hopes of catching a free show if
the blanket slipped.

His sunglasses also seemed to like blinders.  His questions and focus, once
he got past my appearance, were totally on the attack and pulled more
information from me about it than I realized I even had.   However it took
his partner to cut him off when the pain of my injuries and the stress of
the evening threatened to have me passing out, I can only imagine how much
worse it might have been for a fully flesh and blood woman.
Riding home, Nene driving both Irene and myself, sticky sweaty and dressed
in a spare blouse she'd had at work I fell asleep in the car.  The aches
and pain subsiding as I finally let my systems take over and drop me into a
full regenerative cycle.

End Chapter
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