Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Fanfic Series

Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species

Part 5: Blood Trails

Chapter 59: Magic Words

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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Priss didn't move at the sound of the elevator doors opening behind her. The soft clicking of heels on the tiled floor told her all that she needed to know.

"Are you hungry or thirsty at all?" Sylia asked from behind her. "Henderson is preparing dinner and wants to know if he should prepare a special tray for you. Then again, given that you didn't even touch your lunch, I'm wondering if I should tell him not to bother."

Priss glanced at the untouched meal tray that had been placed on the nearby table. "It seems like the least wasteful option at the moment," she answered.

Suddenly a new sound in the background caught Priss's ears and attention. It was the unfamiliar noise of something being gently pushed across the floor on wheels.

She turned and was greeted with the sight of Linna in a wheelchair, with Reika pushing her from behind.

Linna was dressed in pajamas with metal and plastic bindings to support her frame, but at least she sat upright and looked alert. Her concern was clearly evident in her eyes as they came closer and she said, "Hi, Priss."

Priss actually broke out into a soft smile and said, "Hey. It seems the wheelchair came in time."

Linna managed a nod in her neck brace. "Given that Sylia invited us over for this special event, I was glad I could say yes. With Reika's help, of course."

Reika kept quiet as she pushed Linna to the spot beside the singer. She was clearly not pleased for some reason but gave Linna a kind smile at the acknowledgement.

Priss realized that there was a hint of an ulterior motive behind the three new arrivals so she looked at Sylia questioningly. "What's up?"

"I'm hoping we have a final solution to this one maddening puzzle," Sylia answered as she pulled out a handheld recorder from her skirt pocket and gave it to Priss.

Upon taking it, the singer arched an eyebrow at the device and remarked, "Sorry, singing requests are out of the question for a few days. My swollen mouth has final say on the matter."

"You don't need to sing this time," Sylia said as she walked over to the nearby control panel and started to push some buttons. "I just need you to press 'play' when I give you the cue."

Priss was naturally extremely curious but she knew the answer would come shortly. It was then that she noticed Nene sitting at the main control station up in the command booth.

After a few more buttons were pressed, a hum came from Sylvie as electricity flooded into her. Even though she was still in the same tattered state from the battle earlier that day, it was clear that her motor responses were functioning again. Because of the patch of artificial skin that had been torn from the upper right side of her face, it was strange to see her eye start to swivel and look around. Almost immediately afterwards, her left eyelid started to flutter and mimic the responses of blinking as she tried to assess her current situation, including testing the strength of the bindings at her limbs and waist.

Sylia pointed to Priss, who then pushed the 'play' button on the recorder.

"Sylvie," an unfamiliar male voice said.

The boomer suddenly froze at the sound, apparently focusing all attention on the voice, not noticing or caring that it came from the device in Priss's hand.

"Sylvie," the recorder said again in the same voice, "I order you to stop Linna Yamazaki's assassination."

Priss was pleasantly surprised by the words, and intrigued to see if they would work. To the singer's ear, it was clear that the words were spliced together from a probably unrelated conversation given the uneven inflection in the speaker's tone.

This didn't seem to matter to the boomer because she answered, "Yes, Mr. Rosenkreuz. I will comply. The direct command has been terminated."

The three other women in the room let out the breath they had apparently all been holding.

Priss smiled and gave Sylia a deep look of gratitude.

Now that she was back to full consciousness, Sylvie stopped struggling and looked around to study the visitors, her eyes finally resting on Linna. Instead of the cold, efficient killer that had been present the last time she was active, the boomer's cheeks actually reddened as she said with clear remorse, "Ms. Yamazaki, I am sorry for all of the trouble I caused you."

Linna smiled back and said, "It's okay, Sylvie. I know you couldn't help it."

"Thank you."

"Sylia," Reika prompted with a meaningful look.

The other woman nodded and pressed the buttons that would release Sylvie's bindings.

"Why don't you two take a moment to collect yourselves?" she suggested to Priss and Sylvie. "There's an important matter we need to discuss up in the command booth. So come on up when you're done?"

They nodded as the others turned to leave.

Priss narrowed her eyes as she watched them get into the elevator, knowing that there was something they were hiding by the way they didn't speak to each other. She knew the answer would come in time too and what mattered more right now was the woman before her.

"I'm so embarrassed to be seen like this," Sylvie said, gently touching the edges of her torn facial skin. She was grateful that her nose and mouth were still intact.

Priss stood and leaned against the examination table. She smiled and remarked, "Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I made a crack about facial wounds. Besides, Sylia and the others will patch you up and you'll be as good as new."

Sylvie gave her a shy smile and said, "Thank you for being so forgiving as well."

Priss shrugged and remarked, "Well, if you ever pull a stunt like that again, be sure to take Sylia's Porsche instead, okay?"

"I thought about it. I'm sorry your bike was destroyed. But I took it because it meant more to me since it was yours."

Priss stared at her with wide eyes as red flushed across her cheeks. She cleared her throat and dropped her gaze to the floor. "Yeah, well, Nigel and Mackey are seeing what they can do to salvage it... We should go up and find out what the others want to talk about. Are you up to it?"

"Should I put on something to cover my face?" Sylvie asked as she glanced up at the command booth in concern. No one was visible in the window, showing that they were collected deeper in the room.

Priss smiled at this display of vanity and said, "It doesn't bother me."

Sylvie smiled and said, "Then let's go..."

-- End Chapter 59 --

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