Leon was forced to steady himself. "WHAT!"

"Take a vacation Leon." Roland said whit out missing a beat, his yaw clenched.
"Do us both a favor and don't start to mess whit me on this one."

"But... But your more then short handed as it is and..." Leon pointed at
Roland for effect. "...You know I'm the best person you HAVE, you need me!"

Roland spun around and slammed his hand down so hard on his desk that it almost
caved in and split in two. "What I don't need is a officer whit a death wish
getting his head splattered open because he can't take it!" Leon was at a loss
for words. "What?"

"You heard me, I don't know why but you looking for a quick death,
I have seen it before." Roland bared his teeth, the anger in his eyes
was apparent. "Your going to get yourself killed going at it like that, I
got a report saying that when you ran out of ammo you charged a Boomer whit
your bare hands?" Leon looked down at the floor. "It was already half dead."

Softening slightly Roland sat down and grabbed the bridge of his nose.
"Damn it Leon, I know that something happened when you went back to the city...
but it's not worth dying over."

"Sir I'll be more careful from now..." Leon started. Roland held up his hand.
"No Leon, you're up for vacation, take it. Don't make me put you on
suspension because I will!" Roland looked up at Leon threw his fingers.
"Your right your the best officer I have... and your a GOOD friend even if
you have been a pain in my ass sence the day you set foot in this station...
your NOT expendable." Leon gave in. "How long?"

"Until you can cut it, and..." Roland held out his hand.
"Your gun, that is not an order but... please."

Leon looked at him for a moment then sighed, taking out his gun, emptying the
chamber and handing it to him in a very professional manner.
"You afraid I'll resort to that?" Leon said putting his finger to his head.

Roland smiled. "Nope... I don't think your suicidal... but whit this you won't
hesitate to go Boomer hunting on your spare time, but even you aren't
stupid enough to go whit out it." Roland opend his desk and put the
gun in the drawer. "It will be right here for you when you get back."

Leon nodded and turned around walking to the door, Roland called out after him.
"Look... I'm... I'm not the best person for this but if you need to..."
Leon turned back looking at his chief. "Don't worry, I'm not THAT desperate."
Leon grinned big, threw up his hand whit his normal good bye signature. Just
before the door closed. "But I'm taking the car."

Roland looked up from his paper. "WHAT... HEY we are short on car's as it IS!"

---

Nigel put his index finger at the edge of the glass tilting it back and forth,
this night he was going to get drunk... REALLY drunk... only problem was that
he was really drunk as it was.

The Bar was one of only a hand full left in the city still operational and one
of even fewer that still served drinkable liqueur, waving his finger for the
bartender he wanted a refill.

"Make that two... or rather one for him and two for me."
Leon seated down beside Nigel.

This had been the routine for several days' now and today Leon didn't have to
worry about work tomorrow or it would have been on whisky a pat
on Nigels shoulder and then out, tonight he was going to get just as drunk as
Nigel. Leon looked at Nigel for a moment, well at least close.

The normal routine was that either of then said a word and never even looked
at each other... comfortable silence that they both enjoyed.

But Nigel noted the two glasses in front of Leon and tried a half smile,
grabbing his glass and lifting it up to Leon. "To the night Sabers" he said low.
Leon looked at him half worried that maybe he had had just a bit too much
tonight, but then smiled himself, lifting his glass. "To... Priss."

Nigel nodded in agreement. "To Priss." they both emptied their glasses and Leon
felt like he was really going to enjoy this.

Putting the glass down Nigel chuckled lightly and fell over on Leon's shoulder,
Leon scowled down at his friend. "I guess this won't be a drinking night after all,
Let's get you 'home'."

---

"You look tired." Mackie sat the cup of coffee down beside his 'sister'. "You really should get some sleep... it won't go any where." he looked out at what
was left of Priss hard-suit and Motoslave, the large white wings non-characteristically
spreading out in the temporary lab.

His sister rarely said something, ever sence they found the suit but not Priss and Celia
had pulled farther and farther in to herself effectively shutting everyone out.

---

"What a royal mess!? A man in his late twenties stepped out from the large shuttle
and on to what was one the pride of the Genom cooperation, Megalocity's Genom Tower.
"Don't you Agree Mr. Takachi?"

An older more seasoned man stepped out behind him. "Oh yes most definitely, a real mess."
looking around he took up a position behind the larger and younger man.

"When I first received the information about what happened and what Genom have been
keeping in it's dirty closet I can't say I was generally surprised... but this..."
He glanced over at what remain of the city itself. "This is beyond even my worst nightmare."

The old man straightened himself. "But perhaps it was for the best Mr. Chairman...
this way we could avoid the war... You have to agree Malcolm, it could not have
happened more conveniently."

Malcolm, the new Head chairman of The Genom cooperation nodded lightly.
"Genom have allot to atone Mr. Takachi... but I wonder if it will EVER be
enough to clean up this."

"Of course, however Genom can not be expected to be held solely responsible for the
actions of Jason and..." Takachi look down at the paper in his hand.
"...Galatia's? Action."

"I want you to set up a Press conference, tomorrow 15 hundred hours...
outside the remains of the Totem-pole of the old ADP HQ."
Malcolm took one last glance over the city. "God only know how many people died here."