Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Fanfic Series

Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species

Part 5: Blood Trails

Chapter 58: In For A Penny

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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"HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?!" Reika yelled at the top of her lungs.

Sylia quietly leaned back against the control panels in her private lab, grateful that she chosen an extremely secure place to have this conversation with her ex-girlfriend. Still dressed in her combat outfit from the battle not more than an hour before, she folded her arms and listened quietly with a bowed head as she got the verbal barrage she knew she deserved.

Reika angrily pointed at the screen, which showed the view of Sylvie strapped to an examination table with cables attached to her neck to keep her alive. "I cannot believe you are still keeping her around after what just happened! Maybe it was my fault that I didn't say anything when you first told me what you were doing with her, even though I really wanted to, but after she's proven what kind of a danger she is, you still have her? Sylia, the threat to my family home and staff shouldn't have to be part of this conversation! I thought you cared about Linna! Why are you willing to risk her life AGAIN?!"

Sylia didn't try hiding her flinches at the words that cut deeper than any physical wound she had ever received. Noticing the sudden silence, she peered up to see Reika glaring at her with her hands on her hips.

Reika tsked and muttered, "I'm so used to having you yell back that I don't know what to say next. Other than that you're being extremely stupid right now. And I'm extremely disappointed in you. I'm sure Linna won't admit it, but I'll bet she is too."

Sylia took a breath and said softly, "You're right. You always have been. My methods are stupid and insane and endanger everyone I love and care about. I act like I can solve the world's problems by myself even though time and time again it's been proven that I need help to do it. But that's the way I am, and always will be."

"But that doesn't explain why you still have that boomer here."

Sylia looked up at the screen, but her attention wasn't focused on the central image of Sylvie. Instead, her eyes were on the lone figure of Priss slouched in a chair next to the table, watching the boomer with a heartbreaking expression of loss and ache.

Sylia looked at the woman beside her and said, "Reika, I know you don't care about Priss, but she's also one of my best friends. And she needs Sylvie right now, in a way I've never seen her need anyone. After three years of running away from it, she's finally dealing with the repercussions of having Galatea mentally, emotionally and physically rape her. And I'm certain she's having an identity crisis on top of that. She's struggling just to keep sane. Sylvie has provided an anchor for her that no one else could. I assure you, if it were not for Priss, I would have gladly scrapped Sylvie once and for all."

Reika looked at the screen and then back at Sylia. She was still displeased even though her fury seemed to subside for the most part. "So why did you need to talk to me? It sounds like your mind is already made up on the matter. I've known from past experiences that that is one wall I'm not going to bother banging my head against anymore."

Sylia then took a strengthening breath and finally said, "I managed to crack through some more of Sylvie's programming the other night and found something that might be a solution to the problem. Because of it, I have a plan that can help Linna once and for all. And if we're extremely fortunate, there's also a chance it can help Sylvie. But you're the only person who can carry it out... I guess this is my roundabout way of saying that I need your help, Reika. You can say no, and I'll never bring it up again. If you think the plan's insane, then you're right. I'll do whatever you say to help fix things. All I'm asking is this one last chance for you to trust me."

Neither woman moved for a moment as they stared at each other, wondering what the other was thinking, and if the other person's thoughts were indeed in the present, or eight years in the past.

Reika let out a sigh and leaned back against the console next to Sylia. "How can I turn you down after all that? Sometimes I do wonder if there's a part of me that's still wrapped around your little finger."

Sylia giggled and nudged her with her elbow as she said, "Maybe it's the combat fatigues. You always did tell me this outfit was a fantasy of yours."

Reika broke out into a laugh and remarked, "The thought did cross my mind. When you actually do butch, you do it extremely well. Too bad you never dressed up like this when we were together."

"I'll make certain that Linna gets a similar outfit for Christmas."

"Oh, stop it!" Reika retorted with a nudge of her own. "Going there is not going make me want to help you, even if it is for Linna's benefit! - So, what's this plan of yours?"

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Quincy waited with his security and laboratory staff for the Genom helicopter to descend from the sky and settle on the landing pad.

Once the airplane finally shut down, the side door opened, and the towering figure of Kou Takeuchi emerged, dressed impeccably in his black suit. A sharply dressed Reika Chang emerged right behind him, with her gaze focused on the man who led their welcoming committee.

Quincy bowed deeply and said, "Greetings, Ms. Chang. I am extremely pleased that you and your staff have chosen to return this piece of Genom property to me. I take it that my girls are inside?"

"The pieces that we could recover," she answered coolly. "My men weren't too concerned about keeping things in organized piles."

Quincy flashed her a warm smile and said, "The fact that you've gone through such effort for a matter is exceptional. And I am sorry for the inconvenience this entire matter has caused you, as well as to the damage on your property. Genom plans to make full restitution to you and your estate."

"Don't bother. It will give my groundskeeper a challenge he's been wanting for a while," she answered. "Now, do we want to conduct our meeting outside or shall we move to a more secluded atmosphere?"

He bowed and pointed in the direction of the entrance to the building. "This way please."

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"Can I offer you something to drink?" he asked as he approached his bar.

"A gin and tonic would be fine," the young woman answered as she sat down in the chair and took in the breathtaking view of Tokyo Bay and the Skyhook construction site.

"And thank you for allowing your bodyguard to wait outside. I've found such discussions should be held only with the people who truly need to know," Quincy said as he poured drinks for both of them. "Now what do you wish to talk about?"

"About Linna Yamazaki," she answered simply.

"What about her?" he said, handing her her drink as he took his own seat. If Quincy was surprised, he hid it well.

"Good that you know who she is," she commented with a slight smirk and a sip. "At the request of Detective Daley Wong, and because she's a good friend of my sister's, I've been harboring her at my estate ever since an attempt was made on her life at the hospital she had been staying at. We kept her whereabouts a secret because at the time we didn't know why she was spared from the Plaza Slaughter, or why someone would go through a special effort to kill her after the fact. Well, after today's events, and remembering the demonstration of Sylvie, I did a little bit of an educated guessing and came to the conclusion that perhaps the missing piece of the puzzle had been in front of me all this time."

Quincy merely leaned back in his chair and arched his eyebrow curiously. "Are you saying that you think Sylvie was near your estate because she was there to finish killing Linna? That's quite a stretch."

"But not impossible," she stated pointedly. "As head of the Hou Bang Clan, I've come here to discuss protection terms for her. What would it take for her life to be spared?"

The man smirked and said, "Ah, your family trademark. Bartering for the safety on behalf of people who unfortunately got in over their heads. I do wonder what your Clan gets out of being a negotiator? A cut of their salary?"

"That is a matter between us and our clients." Reika then frowned slightly and said, "I doubt Ms. Yamazaki did anything to deserve to be hunted down and be forced to live in hiding."

"That may be true," Quincy answered with a shrug. "But I admit I am interested in your deal. However, the decision isn't entirely mine."

Reika blinked in surprised at this news. "Who else needs to be consulted in this matter?"

Quincy punched in a speed-dial code into his phone and said, "I think you'll recognize him once you see him. After all, he's your future husband's brother."

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Obviously taking a break from an intense tennis match, Largo took a sip of iced tea and looked at the two people from the phone-screen on Quincy's wall. "Well, Reika, I must say it is a bit of a surprise that you're involved in this matter."

"I'm involved because Ms. Yamazaki is a good friend of Irene's," Reika clarified. "And that's why I'm here to negotiate for her protection."

"Ah, I see," the man mused. "Still, as you can imagine that this matter does require some delicacy, now that you have a good idea of what still requires discretion."

"I promise Ms. Yamazaki will remain quiet about the Plaza Slaughter," she stated firmly. "She doesn't really know anything about this whole matter anyway, so the risks of exposure were extremely slim."

Largo studied her for a moment and then nodded. "I am satisfied with that if you are guaranteeing her silence with the reputation of the Hou Bang Clan."

"I am."

"Very well then. This matter is of no more importance to me. Mr. Rosenkreuz, am I needed for anything else?"

"Not at this time, Mr. Watanabe," he answered. "Thank you for your time and input on this matter."

Once Quincy hung up the phone, he remarked, "It seems the choice is really left to me after all."

Suddenly Quincy's cell phone rang in his pocket. "If you'll excuse me for one moment, Ms. Chang," he said as he pulled it out. "This is Quincy.... Are you certain about that?... I appreciate you telling me right away... Continue with your work. Goodbye."

"Well?" Reika asked, once he hung up the phone a second time.

Quincy looked occupied with his thoughts as he took a large sip of his scotch. He then stood and walked over to the window.

"It seems my staff has noticed a significant item missing from your recent delivery," he noted.

Reika felt herself tense as she realized what he was getting at.

"I had originally thought I would not require anything in exchange for Ms. Yamazaki's life but it seems I do have a price after all." He then turned to her directly and stated, "Give me Sylvie and I will spare Ms. Yamazaki. Consider it a life for a life, if even that."

Reika frowned and responded, "But I don't have Sylvie."

Quincy shrugged. "This is no different to me being a shop owner and having a prized necklace in the window that you want. My price for the necklace is a thousand yen, yet you only have five hundred. It's up to you to figure out how to get the rest. And a woman of your connections and resources I'm certain would have far more success than others in this particular matter."

He finished his glass and said, "I'll even sweeten the deal. I'll work with my police connections and have the Plaza Slaughter case closed to everyone's satisfaction. After all, terrorists can be a rather busy lot, don't you think?... On the other hand, if you don't deliver Sylvie to me, then I will make certain those same police sources will find evidence connecting Ms. Yamazaki to the terrorists as an accomplice, which of course means her safety and her life are out of my hands from that point forward."

"So let me summarize to make certain I understand all of the terms," Reika said, not bothering to hide her brimming anger. "You'll agree to give the order to stop Ms. Yamazaki's assassination as well as solve the Plaza Slaughter in a manner that satisfies the general public? And if I don't provide Sylvie, you will instead have evidence planted that will implicate Ms. Yamazaki in the recent terrorist activities, the Plaza Slaughter included?"

"Precisely," the man said with a smooth grin. "I could have ordered the stop on any assassination attempts on Ms. Yamazaki without this condition, but I am a businessman after all, and when I see a chance for a deal where everyone wins, I do what comes naturally. After all, I'm only asking for what's mine."

"You are right, Mr. Rosenkreuz. Sylvie is yours after all," Reika said as she put her barely touched drink on his desk. "Give me three days to see if my resources can track her down. I'll give you a call once, and if, I'm certain I can guarantee such a delivery."

Quincy smiled and bowed. "I look forward to hearing from you, Ms. Chang."

She bowed in return and said through an icy smile, "Have a good rest of your day, Mr. Rosenkreuz."

-- End Chapter 58 --

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