Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Fanfic Series

Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Files

Part 2: Hunters

Chapter 15: Deep Scars

by P. Kristen Enos (bgcpost2040@aol.com)

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A Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 English Dub Version Fanfic. All rights belong to AIC, ADV Films and the other creative powers that be. I just want credit for writing the story. Contains spoilers! Rated PG13. Yuri warning! Nothing in here should be a shock if you've watched the episodes and paid attention. All I'm doing is filling in the gaps with my own interpretation of events! Special thanks to egret for betaing!

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"-- The original invitation promoted it as a 'revolutionary' product demonstration; that was only tantalizing because of the sponsor, not because it actually said what the product would be," Reika said, continuing with her explanation. "Grandpa wanted me to go, not only because Dad had already accepted the invitation, but because we've never had strong ties with Genom before, either as Chang Enterprises or as Hou Bang, and he thought it would be a good opportunity to see if there would be any value there for us. And given the clout that was in that warehouse, Rosenkreuz definitely knew who his audience was as well as how much pull the Genom name has. There were characters in that place that I had already been warned about in my Clan meetings. I'm convinced that he labeled it Project: Human Target more to appeal to them than for the men who were attending for more legitimate reasons."

"Even so," Sylia said, obviously in business mode even though her curiosity was still evident, "My war was with Galatea, not with Genom in and of themselves. As long as there are no reports of rogue boomers, I frankly don't care what they do."

"Because I am very well aware of the fact that I could be overreacting only because I know what I know, would you care if they intentionally or accidentally create the circumstances for another Revolution?"

Clearly visibly stunned, Sylia was quiet for the longest time before she said, "I'm listening."

Reika took a deep breath and then began her detailed description of the demonstration, ever aware of each change of expression on Sylia's face, no matter how minute. The listening woman remained passive until Reika described the moment when Rosenkreuz revealed what Sylvie really was. Sylia's eyes widened with surprise and alarm, but then the coldest look settled on her face as she continued to absorb the details. Reika finished her story by pulling out the data pad from her purse and handing it over to the other woman.

Reika felt a familiar chill at the look on Sylia's face as she read the data pad. It was that cold-as-steel rage which looked as if it would break loose if you even breathed wrong. The first time she had ever seen that look all those years ago was what Reika considered to be the beginning of the long and torturous end of not only their romance, but also their presence in each other's lives.

It had been in the spring time, and the teenagers were spending a quiet weekend in the privacy of Sylia's country home, away from nosy relatives and schoolmates. Sylia had always spent her spare time on her computer, devouring information as her own form of education on subjects which were too advanced for university level classes, never mind a girl's school, no matter how elite. Reika had been on the couch, reading one of Sylia's English books, when she realized that Sylia hadn't typed anything for at least an hour. She had glanced up to see her girlfriend sitting at the terminal and staring at the text on the screen, with the most unfamiliar expression on her face.

"Sylia?"

The silver haired girl hadn't answered or moved. She had just continued to stare at the screen.

Curious and concerned, Reika rose from her seat to see what was so fascinating. She had looked over Sylia's shoulder to see an Internet article detailing the horrors of a construction boomer that had gone berserk, killing half of its human crew and injuring the rest.

Realizing what was possibly triggering the response, Reika had wrapped her arms around the frozen girl and said softly, "Sylia, it has nothing to do with you. It is not your fault."

In a flash, Sylia had bolted up and whipped around, the action knocked Reika so hard that she stumbled backwards on to the floor.

"You're wrong!" Sylia had screamed, her face contorted in a wild, manic expression. "It has everything to do with me!"

Terrified and bewildered, Reika had been speechless as she stared up at this complete stranger.

The rage had disappeared in the next moment, and Sylia was on the floor the next instant with her arms around Reika, apologizing profusely for losing control like that. However, despite all of the apologies, Reika couldn't help but wonder at this side of Sylia had never known existed.

It had all started with that same look she now saw before her as they sat at the dinner table.

Finally, Sylia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Reika with considerably more calm than a minute before.

"Thank you for letting me see this," Sylia said. "It's a typical P.R. piece that has enough details to be tantalizing but not enough to tell you anything real. However, I'd still like to download its contents if you don't mind."

"Of course," Reika answered. "That's why I brought it. I admit I don't know if I'm overreacting, but you had to see them, Sylia. They looked and acted almost as real as Mackie. I honestly thought they were human, especially the one called Sylvie. And I checked my business and Clan resources, and no one has ever heard of any boomer models being deployed that were remotely this sophisticated looking, even before the Revolution. I could understand it if these boomers were a natural progression from the last version, but this abrupt jump just seems to me that they got their hands on critical information as opposed to earning it through research."

Sylia looked grim for a moment as she glanced over the pad's contents again. "I thought I had taken all of the necessary precautions to make certain it would never happen again. I wiped out everything relating to Galatea or me in their databases after the Revolution since I was certain that everyone who knew about us was dead and therefore wouldn't notice the missing files. Once that was done I considered my chapter with Genom also closed. The one time I did have to hack into their systems a couple of years ago, I had noticed their security measures were far more sophisticated than before, but I attributed it as a counter-measure against corporate espionage.... Do you mind coming down to the pit with me? I want to document what you saw at the demonstration."

Reika's heart tightened at the thought of going to the place that had been the scene of several fights, including their final one. "Certainly. Lead the way."

Wordlessly, they made their way to the elevator to reach the main floor, and then through the secret passage to the second elevator leading to the laboratories below. Sylia opened a panel above the elevator buttons, which showed a small glass window. She pressed her thumb against it, triggering a red glow from the sensor on the other side of the glass. Sylia then pushed the button marked 'L2', which Reika noted silently was an option that hadn't been there when she had last been in the building.

"Do you think I'm overreacting?" Reika finally asked, as the elevator descended.

"No," Sylia admitted softly as she stared out through the glass wall. "I had sincerely hoped that this was finally over."

The elevator finally stopped at its destination, and Reika noticed it was a lower floor than the original pit, with a very different room layout and contents. It was obviously Sylia's hands-on workshop, with several tables in the middle, surrounding a large one that had her silver hardsuit stretched out on it. The combat armor looked strange with some of its panels opened and some parts missing or lying next to it. However, at the same time, it looked as if it would sit up and move about by itself at any moment. Reika then noticed that on one of the side tables there were unassembled pieces of what would appear to be a stylized rifle.

Against the wall were three other hardsuits, which were clearly there to be out of the way yet readily available if needed. The designs were noticeably different than what she remembered, specifically the clear abdomens, but the basic form was still recognizable.

"I thought you said you had hoped it was over," Reika commented as she followed her into the lab.

"I don't like being unprepared for the worst," Sylia answered. "And in the meantime, I considered it a hobby. Like a fellow who always tinkers on a car he'll never drive."

Reika thought it better not to comment as she glanced again at the other suits, taking in the color schemes: red, green, blue....

"Yes?" Sylia asked when she noticed the other woman abruptly stop in her tracks.

Reika looked genuinely confused as she answered in a slight daze, "You have four hardsuits..."

Sylia blushed at the realization of what Reika meant. The latter woman knew about the original Knight Sabers team, when it had been Sylia and two other women, a martial artist and an American special operatives agent.

"Well," Sylia began to explain hesitantly, "I had to change the entire support line up. I hadn't planned on adding a member, but it was one of those things that just happened for the best of all involved."

"Oh. Then what happened to Jill and Mei?"

Sylia was quiet for a moment as she continued to lead Reika to small room at the other side that contained a computer terminal with a wall of screens. As she flipped switches and pressed buttons to turn everything on, she almost acted as if she hadn't heard the question.

Finally, she answered in a soft tone, "You were right. They were hurt."

Reika kept quiet at the news. She didn't feel vindicated by being told that her fears had come true eight years later. Jill and Mei's safety were just added reasons Reika had tried to use to make Sylia give up on her obsession. Her ultimate concern had always centered around Sylia's emotional and physical well-being. When it was clear her words were falling on deaf ears, it had become time for her to leave an insane situation before she would witness her own worst case scenario.

"Do you ever talk to them?" Reika asked, more out of curiosity to see just how much 'hurt' was involved.

"I sent them both letters after the Revolution, to let them know Galatea had been killed," Sylia explained as she plugged in the data pad into a port to download its contents. "Jill called me and we chatted for a bit. I think it helped her to finally get closure, and to realize that her sacrifice truly contributed to the ultimate victory. Mei never called and I haven't seen her since, but I do know the letter was received. And I do know that her bank account is still actively receiving my deposits."

"And these new girls?"

"They're all alive and well. And good friends of mine still." Sylia said with a reassuring smile, "It ended happily after all,"

A troubled frown was still on Reika's face as she watched at the blur of data fly over the main screen. She then took a deep breath and said, "Sylia, I really am glad you settled your matter with Galatea. And I am sorry I couldn't be there to witness it. But I do want to let you know that leaving was the only way I could support you."

Sylia tilted her head as she studied her for a moment. She smiled softly and said, "I've always known that. But thank you for telling me."

-- End Chapter 15 --