Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Fanfic Series

Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species

Part 3: Casualties

Chapter 32: Skin Deep

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 Greenegret for betaing!

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Upon Sylia's signal, Nene flipped the switch.

After a warm-up period, Sylvie opened her eyes. The difference was subtle but instantaneous, showing such slight responses as spontaneous blinking and sporadic shifting of her gaze to nearby visual or auditory stimulus.

It took only a second to get her bearings before the boomer focused on the mild burning feelings across various parts of her artificial skin.

"This physical... sensation is unfamiliar," she commented out loud, clearly wanting an explanation.

"That's pain," Mackey said, jumping in before Sylia could speak. "It'll pass soon."

"That's partly true," Sylia said, knowing that a slightly more scientific explanation was needed for the boomer. "Previously you were programmed to be aware of any damage to your body, no matter how slight, but only for reasons of assessment. What was missing was the qualitative experience similar to humans. Yes, this session of pain will pass because we're still fixing the various areas where your skin surface had been damaged. However, it would be very possible to experience it again, even at a more intense level depending on the extend of the damage."

"It is distracting," Sylvie pointed out, the creases of a frown appearing on her brow. "I do not like it."

"And you shouldn't," Sylia responded. "Unlike a human, however, you are able to deploy special algorithms that will once again allow you to ignore the pain sensations as you had previously, but using them will be on emergency basis partially because it will drain extra power from your energy cells to use them. However, the point is that you will now be able to experience good sensations as well as bad ones, just like a human. And that's why I wanted to talk to you now before we progress further.

"My team and I are willing to upgrade you to the level of a fully sentient boomer, comparable to Mackey here. We've already upgraded your core enough for you to be able to comprehend what I'm saying to you now, but there are several larger revisions that need to be done in steps and over time. What I want to know is if you wish for us to continue. If you do not wish to become an independent, free individual, then I will give the word to remove all enhancements we've made and you will not have any record of this conversation, nor will it matter to you going forward. It will not be easy, and as you can already tell, there are some immediate drawbacks. But we are willing to help you if it is what you want."

Sylvie focused on every word Sylia uttered, her expression as passive as ever. Then she looked at the waiting Nigel and Mackey in the background, especially at the younger Stingray.

"Sylvie, it'll be worth it!" Mackey gushed. "I guarantee it! And I'll help you any way I can!"

Meanwhile, Nene sat in the command booth above the pit and watched the entire interaction with a dark expression, as her fingers methodically tapping the surface of the panel.

After studying Mackey for a moment, the other boomer looked back at Sylia and said, "I would like to be like him. I would like to be free."

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"Mistress Sylia, would you like more tea?" Henderson asked. "Or would coffee be better?"

"It looks like it's going to be another all-nighter at this point, so coffee is the wiser choice," she answered as she leaned back in the chair and rubbed her eyes, having studied algorithms for the past four hours non-stop in her private computer room.

"The others have already gone home for the evening. Perhaps you should also use that as a cue to turn in yourself."

She smiled and said, "Thank you for the hint as always, Henderson, but I think I'm on the verge of uncovering a key piece and don't want to lose my train of thought. However, I am ordering you to turn in once you get me my coffee."

"Of course, my lady," he said with a bow.

Once the butler left, all signs of pleasantness disappeared from Sylia's face as she looked at one of the monitor screens focused on Sylvie. The boomer was once again in "off" position, her cranium open to show that Nigel and Mackey were in mid-process of installing more upgrades. Thanks to the team's combined expertise and skills, the enhancements to Sylvie were going forward at a phenomenal pace. However, the enhancements didn't change the encrypted code commands that were buried inside of her.

Sylia looked back to the main screen that showed the original programming algorithms they had downloaded from Sylvie. With Nene's help, she had managed to hack through and understand about one tenth of the source code and data that was clearly tied to combat and recreational capabilities. Sylia had to admit she was both impressed and amused by what Sylvie's creators considered to be required skills for both roles. But it still didn't provide any evidence or leads that Daley could use.

Feeling a full-body yawn creep up, Sylia indulged in it and once again caught herself with a stab of pain. Cursing to herself, Sylia thought that she hadn't needed coffee to stay awake for as long as she had, thanks to her barely healing injury.

Even though she was aware of everyone's concerned looks, she appreciated that no one was actually saying anything about her lack of self-care in that area. The timing was too crucial for her to lie in bed for a couple of days on painkillers so that her body could focus on healing. She knew that the less focused time and energy her body had to spend rebuilding itself only prolonged the healing process, as well as impacting her overall performance. She promised herself that she would focus on staying in bed for a week once the whole matter was over.

Suddenly a light on the panel signalled an incoming phone call.

Sylia frowned, realizing that everyone who would call her at this late hour should be asleep… Unless it was news about Linna.

She immediately hit the receive button, only to be confronted with a full-screen head shot of a frantic Priss Asagiri.

"Sylia, what's this about Linna being in the hospital?!" the singer demanded. The lighting behind her showed that it was daytime wherever she was.

Sylia answered coolly, "Why, Priss, I assume this means you've finally checked your messages." My, she looks the same after three years. Hair is longer though, probably with more split ends.

"So is she all right or not?!" she persisted.

"Well, she fell from a third story window during an assassination attempt and is now in recovery, as well as police custody at the home of my ex-girlfriend."

Priss's only response at first was a blink as she tried to digest the string of information. Forcing a much calmer tone, she repeated, "So is she all right or not?"

"She hasn't woken up yet, however, we think she will be fine. We're making certain she gets the best care possible for a full recovery." Sylia then added, "I'm taking care of everything for her."

"Okay then…" a deflated Priss responded though it was clear she wanted to say something else because she didn't hang up right away.

Sylia then arched her brow and prompted, "Is there anything else you want to know?"

"… What's this about an assassination attempt?"

"That's somewhat more complicated and this isn't a secure line," Sylia responded coolly. "Besides, it's business on a need to know basis only."

"'Need to know?'" Priss repeated, though it was clear she knew where this was going.

"As in members of the Team only."

Priss stared in response for a moment and then asked, "Is the Team active again?"

"Until this matter is resolved, which could be sooner rather than later. You're welcome to come back and be on stand-by, though there are no guarantees you'll be needed. But I think the support would be appreciated because Nene is the only one who is able to be on active duty."

Priss frowned and asked, "What about you?"

"In capturing the assassin in question, I received an injury of my own."

The two women stared at each other through the screen.

Priss then stated, "If I come back, it's to help with Linna's recovery. I'm not promising anything else."

"I'm certain she would appreciate it."

Priss then dropped her gaze and an embarrassed blush showed up on her cheeks. "So, uh, is there any way you can book me a plane ticket, or at least loan me the money for it? I promise I'll pay you back for it."

"Just one ticket?" the other woman asked with a curious tilt to her head.

"Of course not!" Priss retorted, her annoyance returning. "Two would do."

"Tell me where my travel agent should contact you.…"

Once the information and an abrupt farewell was exchanged, Sylia found herself staring at the blank screen that had shown Priss's face only moments before.

The irony was that this was the first communication the two women had had in any form in the past three years.

Sylia then smirked to herself as she mused out loud, "So even though she knows she's not needed, she's still coming back for her. This could prove interesting..."

For some reason, Sylia glanced at Sylvie again before turning her attention back to deciphering algorithms.

-- End Chapter 32 --