Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species
Part 4: Hunger
Chapter 54: Unfinished Business
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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On the tiny phone-screen, Linna's expression was clearly shock. "Oh my God, Priss! What happened to you?!"
As she sat on her bed, Priss shrugged and touched the injured corner of her mouth with her tongue. "I had a sparring match with Sylvie and found out she's got one hell of a mean bitch-slap. Guess it's my fault for taking your lead in facing off against a boomer without a hardsuit."
Ignoring the last dig, Linna blurted, "It looks pretty bad. Are you sure you're okay?"
"It looks worse than it feels," Priss answered casually. "The only real drawback is that I can't really sing for at least a week. Which I guess is okay since the guys are taking their time getting back to Tokyo. So far Jaid is the only one who's shown up. -- Hey, is anyone holding the phone for you?"
"No, it's a special phone mounted on a swivel arm attached to the nightstand. It's a model used for hospital patients who are restricted like me. It's voice activated and everything. It's pretty cool."
Priss let out a chuckle and said, "You sound like Nene. By the way, she told me to tell you 'hi' and that she really misses you."
"Boy, I miss her, too," Linna said wistfully. "I guess it's a good sign that I'm really starting to go stir-crazy. Mrs. Takeuchi and Kou are supposed to bring a special wheelchair today for me so I can get a change of scenery. I'll still need someone to push it, but at least it's better than being stuck in this room all day."
"Sounds like you're really on the path to recovery."
Linna then had that now-familiar look of uncomfortable hesitancy. "So, um, have you spoken to Leon?"
Priss narrowed her eyes and said, "No. Why do you ask?"
"Just asking." With a small sigh, Linna then gave her a firm look and said, "I'm not trying to stick my nose into your business with him, but what you two are going through isn't something small. You either need to resolve it or get closure. Dragging it out isn't doing either of you any good."
"Humph," Priss snorted with a frown. "I'll remember to offer you unwanted advice when you're finally in a relationship."
Linna's face flushed red with anger. "Look, Priss, you know I can see through that 'tough girl' routine! It's your way of hiding your hurt. I just want to see that hurt stop."
Priss lowered her gaze as she reluctantly turned the words over in her mind. Finally she sighed and said to Linna, "I know you care. And I'm sorry for snapping at you. Things are just really complicated right now. And it's more than just Leon... Besides, I shouldn't see him right now anyway. This bruise won't get a good reaction from him. I'm sure he'll immediately blame it on my being a Knight Saber again."
"That's really unfortunate since I knew he was one of your biggest fans," Linna commented truthfully. She may not have truly liked Leon, but even she had to admit he was a good guy, better than most in fact. "... What's this about complications besides Leon?"
Priss opened her mouth to speak but stopped.
"Is this related to your hardsuit freezing on you?" Linna guessed.
"Look, I said it was complicated!" Priss insisted even though her blush hinted that Linna had hit a sore spot.
"Fine!" Linna retorted, her own stubbornness coming to the surface.
Although neither of them spoke, neither one of them hung up the phone either, resulting in a long silence.
"Linna," Priss reluctantly began, not able to look at the screen as she spoke, "I never told you this but when you and Nene caught me and Leon kissing on the roof during Galatea, that was after he told me he thought I was in love with someone. Before I could shut him up, he went on to say that even though he knew he didn't have a chance, he just wanted to be around me. At the time, I thought he meant I was in love with... someone you don't know. But, well, when we had our fight the other night... He asked me if I was going to go back to you."
The long silence that followed finally gave Priss the nerve to look at the phone-screen, only to see a thoroughly embarrassed Linna looking off to the side. "Linna?"
Barely making eye-contact herself, her best friend nervously swallowed and responded, "I - I, uh, can see where he might have thought things about us since we always hung around together, and neither one of us was dating anyone else."
Even though her own face was red, Priss just nodded and said, "Yeah, that must've been it. - So do you want me to come over today?"
Linna jumped at the change in subject and said, "Um, I'm not sure when they're supposed to come back with the wheelchair. How about this evening? Like around dinner? Since I have to eat in bed anyway, it would be nice to have some company then. I'll tell them to fix you something, too. Means you'll have to feed me though."
Priss grinned and said, "Sure, that should be interesting. See you at six, then?"
"Looking forward to it. Bye."
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Sylvie remain frozen as she stood in front of Priss's door, still holding the tray of cookies she had just baked. Although she knew it was anatomically impossible, she felt her stomach drop at the sound of the conversation ending. She could already feel the direct command algorithms start to launch, knowing she would have only five more seconds of independent thought.
She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the conversation, only listening at first to see if Priss was indeed in her room. But when she heard the conversation, and heard who Priss was speaking to, she couldn't pull away. And she honestly didn't want to. She wanted to hear this side of Priss that she had not been privy to before, and probably would never be again.
As she listened, she knew that her sensors were locking onto the radio frequency of the phone, analyzing the data bits she began to realize that it was a private landline number Priss had called which would be easy to trace. Yet, as much as she regretted her automated responses, there was a part of her that pushed for the information. There was a new feeling surfacing in her that was not pleasant and had the aura of danger.
This Linna Yamazaki was no longer just a meaningless person. This woman meant something to Priss different than anyone else. It was obvious in the way Priss spoke to her and in what they talked about. Linna Yamazaki was no longer just a target; she was a threat to Sylvie becoming the most important person to Priss. And there was a part of Sylvie who did not want her around for that reason.
The feeling, sentient side of her was horrified at the cold, gruesome thoughts suddenly processing in her mind. She knew in her core that conflict was a condition of humans, not boomers. And a boomer was what she was no matter what programming and hardware enhancements took place. Priss would never view her as anything other than that.
With that final conclusion, she surrendered to the processes that had already begun to control her actions.
She knew that Sylia was asleep with Nigel, Henderson was in the kitchen, and Nene and Mackey were expected to show up until lunch time. She focused her attention back on Priss's room and heard the sound of experimental guitar playing.
With a final glance at the closed door, she turned on her heel and proceeded to walk away, towards the Pit.
-- End Chapter 54 --
-- End "Part 4: Hunger" --
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