Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species
Part 5: Blood Trails
Chapter 64: One Mind, One Heart
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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With her helmet in one hand and guitar case slung over her back, Priss stepped into the Silky Doll and looked around. It was Sunday and the shop was closed as was its normal schedule, but she browsed around the shop instead of walking through it. Then she came across the pink dress hanging on the rack and held it up with a wistful look.
"For you, I'm willing to sell it at cost," Sylia commented from behind with a giggle.
Priss blushed and frowned, immediately putting the dress back. "Isn't it a little unfashionable to keep a dress that hasn't sold in the four years?"
"For most of the shop inventory, yes. But I don't allow other customers to buy that particular dress since it has a certain personal value to me."
Priss narrowed her eyes at her and then muttered, "Let's get on with it. My time's precious too, you know."
Sylia didn't bother hiding her smirk as she led Priss down to the secret elevator.
"So what are these enhancements you've made to the hardsuits?" Priss asked as she watched the floors whiz by.
"Well, we've only upgraded yours for the time being as a beta test. Increased reflex reactions as well as some automatic defense systems to protect your blind spots in battle."
"Sounds intriguing..." Priss mused, ever aware of the fact that she hadn't been in a hardsuit since that fateful day two weeks ago, when everything felt like it came crashing down. "So are there any safeguards against me potentially freezing again?"
"There just might be," Sylia said with an evasive tone.
Since the original remark was said almost as a joke, Priss narrowed her eyes again as the other woman didn't elaborate.
"It looks the same except that it's obviously the pre-formed version," Priss commented upon seeing her hardsuit ready and waiting for her in the middle of the pit area.
She noted that the hardsuit equipment had been fixed, and that the extra equipment that had been used for Sylvie had been pushed off to the side to be out of the way.
"All of the enhancements affect functionality. As far as actual visual design, I've decided sleek works best."
"So we're stuck with the clear abdomens permanently?" Priss commented with a frown.
"Well, you will be having your picture taken a lot more," Sylia said with a grin. "I'll be up in the command booth when you're ready. No one else is around so take your time."
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Now naked and ready to proceed with the test, Priss closed the locker door and already felt her heartbeat start to increase rapidly. She frowned and sighed, knowing it was just the first step to be conquered.
With slow forceful steps, Priss walked out to the Pit area and approached the hardsuit waiting for her. She pressed her fingers firmly against her chest as she felt herself start to tremble along with her beating heart.
Instead of readying herself to climb in, Priss knelt and placed her hand on the helmet and said softly, "This has been a pretty pathetic comeback as a Knight Saber and I realize it's mostly my fault. Even though you aren't the exact one from back then, you're still my hardsuit, and you're still going to be there for me no matter what. It's up to me to live up to my end of the bargain. So please just be patient, old friend."
Priss then took a fortifying breath and stood, ever aware of the frenzied rhythm of her heart. It was by sheer willpower that she forced herself to climb into the suit, focusing all of her concentration on completing this task that had felt so easy and comfortable in the past.
Once she was enclosed inside the suit, she felt herself once more trembling uncontrollably from the beating of her heart and the frenzy of mental and emotional turmoil churning within. Instead of fighting it this time, she let the emotions, memories and thoughts come, knowing that this battle could only be won by going in head first.
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Watching Priss finally envelop herself in her hardsuit, Sylia sat in the command booth and studied the read-outs on the monitors. Priss's bio measurements were the most chaotic she'd ever seen for anyone. A part of her worried that she should call off this test if it seemed like Priss was showing symptoms of a heart attack mixed in with all of these data readings.
Since waiting was never Sylia's strong point if she had other options, she then tapped into her keyboard and opened up a chat session on the screen. She spoke into the microphone, which then turned her speech into visible words on the monitor: "Are you getting any further information beyond what's being show on the monitors?"
There was a pause and then the words came back: 'She's flooded with feelings of fear, anger, guilt, betrayal, hopelessness and insecurity. Some of these seem to have specific instances related to them, and others seem to be a by-product of general experiences.'
"But no essence of Galatea?"
'There is nothing that I sense that would indicate that Galatea is harboring herself as a hidden entity in Priss's mind. However, some flashes and thoughts are showing identity confusion within Priss herself. She is feeling conflicted over whether she should protect boomers or destroy them, which accounts for a good portion of her feelings of anger and betrayal. I'm sorry, Sylia, but if I tell you more details, I feel it would be truly violating Priss's privacy.'
Sylia frowned and then relented with a smile. "Understood. Just let me know if you think she's going into such a dangerous area that we need to stop this."
'Of course. I can tell you right now though, it does seem that she is making progress with sorting herself out right now. It may just be a matter of time and -- .' The sentence abruptly stopped, and nothing changed on the screen for a few seconds.
The woman sat up in alarm and demanded, "What is it?" She couldn't see anything different in the readings on the monitors or by a glance at Priss down in the Pit below.
There was a pause and then the chat feed continued: 'I'm sorry for that. Apparently, her feelings about me had just surfaced.'
Before she could respond, a beeping sound came from inside Sylia's skirt pocket and she pulled out her phone. "Hello?"
"It's me!" a frantic Detective Daley Wong greeted from the tiny screen. "We've got some trouble downtown with some bank robbers who have hostages. Word has it that they've got a couple of enhanced pre-Revolution boomers in there with them to help break into the safe. Our combat unit is at a standoff with them because of the innocent people inside. I don't know if this is something you think your team can help with."
Sylia glanced at the motionless Priss in her hardsuit before responding, "I need to ask Priss first. If she passes, I'll go. Is Nene with you?"
"She's already heading over."
"I'll give you a status report when she gets here. Bye."
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Priss watched the lights of the launch tube flicker in their countdown. Her heart was racing, but this time a strong sense of enthusiasm and confidence flooded through her in a way that had been missing for quite a while. The other emotions and thoughts were still there, but they didn't seem as strong or as loud as they had been just a few minutes ago. There was a light at the end of the tunnel after all.
She smiled to herself and murmured, "Okay, old friend, let's rock 'n roll!"
As if in response, the countdown ended and the Knight Saber was launched into the bright Tokyo sky.
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Sylia sat back in the command chair as she watched the screen that tracked Priss and Nene as blips across a digital map of Tokyo. Their stealth mode kept them from being viewable so the casual (or not so casual) observer wouldn't be able to see where they came from, but also helped with the element of surprise. She looked at the bio readings from the suits and smiled.
She then tapped into her keyboard and opened up a chat session on the screen. She spoke into the microphone, which then turned her speech into visible words on the monitor: "Priss's readings are excellent. Do you concur?"
There was a pause and then words appeared in response, 'All signs are optimal. This mission should be a success.'
"Let's wait and see what happens before jumping to conclusions," Sylia answered back. "Just remember your end of the bargain is to look out for them when they need it, and even if they don't."
'Of course. I do not plan to fail any of you. They will arrive on the roof in ten seconds. I must focus on their mission.'
"Understood, Sylvie. I'll be monitoring from here if anything comes up."
Sylia mused that her private lab housed all of her deepest secrets for the moment, this one being latest, and most likely not the last.
With a sip of her tea, Sylia Stingray leaned back to enjoy the show.
-- End Chapter 64 --
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