Hearts and Minds I
It was Daley who gave her the news.
"We're going back to Tokyo," he had said standing in the doorway of her office.
She had jumped up for joy. Between the two of them, her desire to return home was open. Six weeks in Sierra Leone was more than enough, she felt, despite the good intentions of her work. Trying to determine what a third- world strife-torn country was too much for her young years and need for modernity. The job was too big, there were so many petitions and meetings and places to see - Linna thought that she had more work to do than Sylia herself. Sylia only had a single company to run, Sierra Leone had thousands, and millions of people who now looked to Genom for survival.
"I can't wait to get back home," she had gleefully said to Daley. He had been nonchalant, as he often was, replying: "To all the paperwork that has been piling up since we were away." Linna didn't let that fact dampen her spirits. When the day was done she immediately went back to her hotel room and packed up everything. In less than thirty-six hours she was going to be back in Japan, home!
/\/\ss/\/\
Sylia closed her eyes for a moment to rest them.
Despite having a headache, caused by being hit in the head by a metal pipe some days ago and supplemented by her continuing to work - which meant reviewing reports, requests, articles, and problems - from her 106th floor suite, the Chairwoman and CEO of Genom Corporation JPLTC, did not want to (as some would say, she would say she had no choice) get some rest, even though it was 11pm and the wondrous skyline from the wall-height windows was full of blinking red and blue lights, reflected over and over by the glass exteriors of office towers as big as her own, called out siren-like to distract her.
In a few minutes an analyst discussion would be shown and the topic was her company, Genom. By default, that meant she would be talked about as well, and Sylia always liked to know what people thought about her, good or bad. Like any person, she liked only to hear favourable reviews, but she was also realistically pragmatic. Genom and her fate were irreversibly entwined. She was sure the discussion would be mentioned tomorrow, and Candace would definitely bring it up, after all, the blond French knockout always kept her finger on the pulse that was Genom's PR.
The anchor of the financial news program hosting the discussion announced it and Sylia put down the expense report that had been keeping her tiring eyes open.
/\/\ss/\/\
"Tonight's roundtable discussion is about the Genom Corporation. Japan's largest boomer producer, Genom has been involved in the middle of a terrorist strike that destroyed central Tokyo, had its core product: boomers, been proclaimed as unsafe. In general, the company that was on top of the world, is now seemingly falling apart at the seems despite the change of CEO to energetic Sylia Stingray, daughter of the father of boomers.
"With me to discuss Genom's past and more importantly its future, are four experts and correspondents. There is; Suzuhara Fujimori of Japan Global Insurance, Brendan Cartwright of the English language newspaper News Of The World, Masamune Kisagari who is head of Sony Research and Development, and George Negus, noted business reporter for CNNNN.
"Mr Kisagara, let me first ask you this question: what are boomers, why did they make Genom what it was, and how have they contributed to the fall of Genom now?"
Kisagara: "Boomers are sophisticated robots. Dr Stingray was their inventor. He envisioned a sophisticated program, bordering on sentience some would say - although this has not been achieved - that would benefit mankind by performing all the menial and dangerous tasks that were before their introduction, performed by humans. Boomer's benefits of superior strength and tirelessness were shown clearly during the first rebuilding of Tokyo, after The Great Quake. Coupled with aggressive pricing, Genom was able to saturate the market with them and ensure no competition could match their product. The terrorist atrocity of last year probably has no boomer connection, so I would say that boomers have not created Genom's problems. Recent admissions of them going out of control are alarming, but it is Genom's more fundamental problems that are causing it trouble, and a new wave of competition."
Moderator: "So then, Mr Fujimiro, Genom's problems are?"
Fujimori: "Clearly its complicity, or negligence in the terrorist strike. The government has all but blamed its former Chairman for the incident that cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. In fact, the economic cost will not be fully known until Tokyo has been rebuilt and returns to normal, which could take up to a decade. Genom, like many other corporations was badly affected with casualties and destroyed facilities. The cost of moving, legal and insurance claims, have all combined to put the company on the brink of destruction."
Moderator: "Mr Cartwright, Mr Kisagara mentioned new competition. Where did this competition come from, and what is its impact on Genom's weakening monopoly?"
Cartwright: "As you say, Genom used to have a monopoly position on boomer production. That now has changed and it is mostly Genom's fault. Dozens of top researchers and scientists have left the company to be snatched up by rival firms from all over the world who want in on the lucrative boomer business. At the moment Genom is still in the lead but that will quickly change as these competitors get their production lines in gear, and Genom's recent labour issues and near death of its Chairwoman on two occasions only serves to distract them from doing business. Genom is in dire straights, and while I commend Ms Stingray for taking on the task of restructuring the corporation, I don't think a twenty-seven year-old former lingerie shop owner whose father just happens to be the inventor of boomer technology will be able to steady the boat."
Moderator: "Mr Cartwright brings up an interesting point, which I would like to pose to you, Mr Negus. You have met Sylia Stringray, and in dire circumstances. Tell us about her, is she just a 'former lingerie shop owner', or does she have what it takes?"
/\/\ss/\/\
Sylia watched with held breath - unconsciously - as George allowed a little laugh before speaking. "If getting the both of us away from rogue boomers is any indication, then she has more than enough moxie. However, I'm sure that the people she had to deal with, outside and insider her own company, are far more dangerous than any boomer. Sylia Stingray is a tough and resourceful woman who has placed herself into a very difficult situation. Governments, competition, lawsuits, they're all trying to bring down what was the powerhouse megacorporation of our time. Just her intention to try and save Genom should be all the proof anyone needs that she is serious. After the death of the previous Chairman, Genom tried to hire out and there were no takers. Rumours of internal politicking abounded and the company looked like it was going to spiral out of control and become the largest corporate crash in the history of mankind."
"That can still happen," Fujimori said.
"Of course," George rapidly continued, not liking the interruption, nor Fujimori, as Sylia could see on his face with astounding clarity, "But it won't because of Sylia. I'm impressed with this young woman, my dad would have said that she's got two great brass ones-"
Sylia coughed loudly, then cleared her throat, smiling afterwards.
"The Stingray genes have passed on into her. Already we've seen Genom recover from its hemorrhaging or staff and talent. Its become more forthcoming with information, Genom of old would never have admitted to rogue boomers and the lack of Genom propaganda is starkly evident. Sylia is cleaning up the company and going a good job. If Genom succeeds it will be because of her, a lingerie store owner as you said. But she has to keep a tight reign on Genom. I'm sure that there are many high level executives that don't like having to take orders from a woman - irrespective of previous occupation - and another Stingray."
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your answers. After the break we will continue and discuss the new competition Genom is going to have to face. From Europe we have the French-Holland BMC, India's Labourmen and the American government's Department of Technology. All of these companies have former Genom boomer engineers. Who will be the first to challenge Genom? And will Chairwoman Stingray's dire warnings on safety be heeded?" the Moderator fore-claimed.
"And where have the Knight Sabres gone?" Kisagara said under his breath, but audible enough for Sylia to hear. And she smiled.
/\/\ss/\/\
"To Haruga!" Leon raised his stein high into the air, the white foam head of the lager bobbing precariously close to spilling over the rim.
A dozen other steins rose up to surround his, the men and support staff of his RRT shouting out their fallen comrades name. That done they drank deeply.
"Damn fine stuff," 'Chief' Roland clapped the burly Leon on the back.
"Careful, Nic," Leon growled, "Don't want to spill this."
"So you've heard the news?" Roland sat down on a round stool by the bar. The Genom security team had taken over the bar for their own use, everyone else ushered out and the sign on the door switched to closed. The keep didn't mind, Leon and his crew were regulars, and ran up a good tab anyway.
"You mean Daley, right?"
"Yeah. It's a little early for him to come back, don't you think?"
Leon looked down into his half-empty, or was it half-full? stein. "Work out of the office, Chief? I think that means you have to buy the next round."
Someone overheard and shouted out: "Hey, the Chief's buying the next round!" And there were cheers.
Roland shrugged. "I'm sure as heck that Sierra Leone hasn't just become safe all of a sudden. And then there's been the increase in incidents, mostly involving our esteemed Chairwoman and boss Sylia."
"You think too much," Leon said, inside he felt uneasy however.
"At least I think," Roland replied with a hearty laugh, "but that's not in your job description, is it?"
"Funny, very funny."
After the bar had to finally close at 2am, Leon decided that it would be better if he walked home. The air was fresh and the roads mostly empty. He didn't live far away and wasn't on watch tomorrow - today - he corrected himself. Today was an off day. He'd still pop into the building, fire off some rounds, see if Nene had found out anything on Priss - the mystery woman of his sleepless nights.
Leon didn't think about Priss as he walked home. He was thinking about what the Chief had alluded to. He was right, Daley was being brought back for a reason that probably had to do with the danger Sylia was in. In the past, Leon wouldn't have thought much of that. Sylia as head of the boomer destruction force known as the Knight Sabres, had always been able to take care of herself before. But now there were no Knight Sabres. Priss was gone. Sylia was running Genom, no way she'd have time to fly around in her hardsuit. That left the other two, Linna who held a special position in Sylia. She was coming back with Daley. And Nene, who was still as annoying as before. At least they didn't see each other as often. But she was still doing her job and had helped nail the guy who had tried to kill Sylia a week ago. Still Leon didn't see how effective the Sabres would be without Priss. He remembered the first time the green and red went it alone. It had almost been a catastrophe.
The former cop, now leader of what he thought of as the replacement to the Knight Sabres, kept thinking - being a detective - as Daley would ridicule his preference to charge in head first, about the incidents. He knew that the first wasn't about rogue boomers but controlled ones, just like the last had been. There didn't seem to be a connection between the two, the employee Satoshi had controlled his boomer in a less sophisticated way than the ones from Tokyo, which had been mutated.
That someone from inside the company had tried to kill Sylia was chilling. It made his resources feel stretched too thin. One group in Tokyo, primarily there as a PR stunt to help Genom get the TQZ reconstruction tender, and the other here with him. He shuttled between them on alternate weeks, which was annoying, but he had two investigations to track now. Investigations had always been Daley's strong suit. Maybe that's why he was being recalled. It would be a good idea. Genom, and Sylia, had far more enemies in Japan than she did in some small African country.
/\/\ss/\/\
George Negus was glad the show was over and he could get home, have a bite of something stale to eat, and then go to sleep, well deserved. The talk had been tiring and the reporter found it difficult enough to be in the same country as Masamune Kisagara, let alone the around the same table. He was insufferable, an ego to match the salary Sony paid him. Too bad I couldn't sledge him about Sony's failed attempts to acquire boomer technology.
As soon as he stepped out of the station's lobby his cellular rang.
"Hello, Negus speaking."
"Good evening, Mr Negus. I'm calling to thank you for defending me on your show tonight."
"Sylia!" George blurted out, surprised.
"Yes," her amusement traveled down the line.
George collected himself. "So you were watching then?" regretting it immediately. Of course she had been watching, she'd just told him that. What an idiot.
"Yes. I quite enjoyed it. I take it that you don't like that Kisagara fellow very much?"
"No, I don't. Ah-" how astute.
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I don't like him either."
"I'll certainly say that I didn't expect you to call. I hope no one knows, they may think that my journalistic integrity has been compromised. Sleeping with the enemy, you know." George started off to the car park, almost tripping when Sylia's laughter, quite loud, struck him in the ear.
"I didn't expect us to go that far so soon."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Just the medication I have to take for my headaches,"
"How are you - it was a shock to hear about what happened."
"Fine. There is another reason why I called."
George noticed the change of her tone to one more serious and business like immediately. "And that was?" he asked cautiously.
"Your interview."
For a moment George was dumbfounded. Then he remembered. "Oh, right. The interview I asked for in Tokyo. Although I recollect that you said something about a date."
"That I did, Mr Negus." Sylia's laughter returned. She sounded exceptionally cheerful after two attempts on her life. "Still want it? Exclusive interview with the head of Genom corporation. Then you'll really be able to see how big my brass ones are."
"Ah, sorry about that. If I'd known that you were watching."
"Well? I'm a busy woman. Any other reporter in Japan would kill to interview me. I have a whole department just to tell them to get lost."
"It's a date then."
"Good. Tomorrow night suit you?" Sylia asked him.
"Sure. It's about time I saw what the Genom corporation has done to Osaka."
/\/\ss/\/\
"Sylia, I think that this is a bad idea-" Candace implored. It made her face look unattractive and added a whine to her voice.
"It's going to happen." Sylia stated her position. "It's about time the press had some access to me. Otherwise they'll get harder in their attacks no matter what we do. Last week took off another twenty percent of our stock price, irrespective that the situation with the factory is now under control and will be completed."
"I know, but you should have discussed this with me, that's what I'm here fore isn't it?" Candace sat on the desk next to Sylia, as she was doing all the time now in private meetings. "Plus, I don't know about this guy, George Negus. To be fair he is respected here but he certainly isn't the heavy weight that your first interviewer should be like."
"You would prefer?" Sylia inquired and a slight upturn of her mouth. She liked it when those around her were a little off-guard or nervous.
"Someone like Brian Winters or Connie Lau."
"Of CNNNN? Candace, I don't want some news celebrity who will be more interested in their own 'performance' than the interview."
"I would have made sure that the list of questions was approved first. Now that you've gone ahead we won't be able to do that." Candace crossed her legs.
"Doctored questions would not be a good idea. Anyway, I have nothing to hide," Sylia patted Candace's knee. The French woman was wearing a skirt as usual. She uncrossed and re-crossed her legs again, very deliberately for Sylia this time, with her attention drawn to taking her hand away. Candace could see the linger of the eyes. She decided to get up, give Sylia a little disappointment.
"Just remember, I'm not happy with this," Candace waved a finger, mock- scolding, in front of Sylia's grinning face. "And considering where you are having the interview, it sounds more intimate."
"Heaven forbid. Is my personal life going to have to go through you as well?" Sylia asked. Candace was good for her stress relief. Not like the rest of the senior executives and board members.
"I'll seriously think about it. Now I've got important work to do, and you're still 'healing' remember." Candace waved and swayed out of the office.
Sylia leant back into her chair and rubbed her forehead. The bandage wrapped around was covered in a bright patterned scarf, her secretary exclaiming that pirates had invaded the building. "Ha ha," she had replied breezing past. Fortunately she didn't have a lot of work on. Her next meeting was with Linna and Daley. It was going to be important, maybe one of the most important of her life. Certainly her future.
/\/\ss/\/\
"Here we are! Home at last. Stop me if I try and kiss the ground," Linna squealed in joy as the jet rolled to a stop on the expansive tarmac of Osake-Kobe International.
"To say that you are happy to be back is an understatement," Daley said. He unclasped his belt and stood up to get their cases down from the overhead racks.
"You have a problem with that, Mr Wong?"
"Not at all. Now you won't be so hard to work with."
"What does that mean?" Linna put her hands on her hips, looking cross.
"You weren't terribly enthusiastic back in Freetown."
"Well you get kidnapped and - oh. Sorry. I guess I was bad company after that. I really thought it would be a good experience, helping all those poor people."
Daley shrugged. "We weren't going to make miracles happen overnight. But you were wrong on one account,"
"Which is?" Linna said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"You weren't all that bad company. If it had been you and Leon, well."
"I'd rather not think about it. That man, ugh." She shivered.
"I'm glad it was you, Daley. It made it bearable. God, I wish I was still a Knight Sabre and not an office woman again!"
Daley almost said something but checked his tongue just in time. Like Leon he had been thinking about why the two of them had been recalled. He had a pretty good idea. Taking up Linna's hand luggage he followed her out of the plane, watching her skirt enclosed hips with a smile, what had made it bearable for him.
/\/\ss/\/\
"I just can't wait for how the rest of the press will react tomorrow," Candace gave another little push.
"They won't believe a word that this Negus man will write. They'll think he's been bought off by Genom, or Ms Stingray's 'personal charm'." Itto said caustically.
"You watched him last night?"
"Yes. He's the one from Tokyo?"
Candace nodded. Itto was seated on his office sofa while she stayed by the window looking outwards. Her physical distance agitated the Genom marketing director. He hadn't had her in almost a week now and the loss was getting to him. She was there, in his eyes, but untouchable. She'd taken off the suit jacket that she'd worn in Sylia's office. There it had been buttoned just below her chest, pressing it together for Sylia. Her shirt was cream, bra beneath black. Clearly noticeable to Itto, distressing him further. Too busy thinking with his groin when she was around and not his real head. It was going to cost him. Fatally.
"That's right. I tried to dissuade her but she didn't listen."
"The bitch doesn't." Itto was smarting over the loss of his man Satoshi and the failure to get rid of Sylia.
Candace was surprised at the venom in Itto's words. She decided to stoke the fire. "I even asked her about the venue. I think you're right about her. Something as bad as an affair with a journalist can only hurt Genom."
"He's married?" Itto asked, hopeful.
Candace shrugged.
"The rest of the media will attack us for getting into bed with him. Trying to get favourable coverage."
"He is positive towards Genom, well Sylia actually, now."
"You should have done something about it."
"I tried,"
"She will destroy us." Itto proclaimed.
"I don't think it will go that far," Candace smiled into the glass window.
"It may be little now but it will build up. All the small events will come together and then we will find that they cannot be controlled. I knew that she was just a woman. She doesn't have the strength to run Genom."
Candace's smiled turned to barely concealed anger. As a woman she had accomplished much. Sylia has already done more than you could ever, Itto. Why did I waste my time with you?
"What are you going to do about her then? Incidents will keep happening while she remains as Chairman."
"Something. I'll do something, but better if you don't concern yourself."
More man's work? Candace didn't say, although she knew that's what Itto meant. Damn the Japanese.
/\/\ss/\/\
"I thought this was going to be a debriefing?" Linna said with growing dismay.
Sylia shrugged. "I'll go through your reports later. Genom has more pressing matters to attend to first. Notably its survival, and mine. You know about Tokyo and the construction site?"
Linna and Daley nodded.
"Good. You know that neither was a rogue incident. Both times the boomers were remote controlled. At the construction site this was by one of our own employees. We don't have a motive for the attacks on the site and me. Up until now the employee was considered a good and hard worker. The Tokyo attack we believe was conducted by an external party. Of the two its hard to judge which is the most dangerous. I know nothing about either and that has to change. Boomers are a threat to the safety of the planet. Before Galatea they were restricted to Genom and I could manage that with the Knight Sabres. That's impossible now. I need the resources of Genom to continue the war. I need you two to find out who my threats are."
Linna and Daley rocked back in their seats. Daley had been expecting something, but this and what it entailed, his mind already working on the scope, was more than he had bargained for.
"Sylia, what are you saying?" Linna asked.
"I need the Knight Sabres again, Linna. Only a few know who we are and they all work for me," although one was missing, "The Knight Sabres were the nemesis of Genom. They've been absent for a while, but the return of rogue boomers will bring them out of the mothballs."
"And their aim is to find out who is attacking Genom?" Daley said.
"Correct. It is good cover, better than you might expect. Everyone things the Knight Sabres are against Genom. That means who ever is trying to kill me won't think of you as enemies. They might try to hire you as allies."
"But what about the Grasshoppers? Anyone can see that they resemble our hardsuits-"
"Doubtfully, Linna. Not enough to make a direct, provable, connection. The RRT's can't be used for this assignment for another reason: there isn't the manpower to spare. The RRTs were created to handle rogue boomers when they occur next. That is still their job."
"Will they know about us?" Daley asked. It was a good question.
"No. Leon will probably suspect something is up when he hears about the return of the Knight Sabres. He, and the rest, are going to be kept out of the loop. That's an added danger for you."
"I bet. Many in the ADP don't remember you all too well," Daley said.
"What?" exclaimed Linna, "You mean we might have our own troops after us?"
"Possibly. Hopefully Leon will handle it."
Daley hoped so too.
Linna was chewing on her lip. "Well, I know this is important work, Sylia, but its not going to be like before, is it?"
Sylia shook her head. "I won't be able to be as involved as I would like. But I've got enough work here running Genom as it is. That's why I'm putting Daley in command." There were surprised looks exchanged. "Daley, you have the investigative skills required for this assignment. I can't get a hardsuit made up for you, unless you think you can run in high heels?"
"Uh." Daley stammered, "I don't think I've quite got the figure either to be afraid."
"A Grasshopper will be handed over, but it will only be available for emergency situations." Sylia said.
"Then it's just going to be me and Nene?" Linna said somewhat downcast. No more Priss. No Sylia. She thought she should be ecstatic to know that she was going to be in a hardsuit again, but.
"Yes. I know that you're thinking about Priss. I am too. But there's nothing we can do. She's just. disappeared."
"What about Nigel and Mackey?" Linna asked.
"They'll be support again. They'll have the time soon when the factory becomes operational and the new boomers are in production."
"That is still months away."
Sylia nodded. "Time is not in great supply. I'm sorry to put this burden on you, but."
"Don't worry, Sylia. We understand." Linna said with conviction. As was to be expected of her. Sylia had been counting on it. She smiled at the younger woman. "How was your birthday?"
"Oh. Terrible."
"I'm sorry." Sylia said, "I'll make it up to you - both of you."
"When do we start then?" Daley asked. He was feeling the eagerness growing. A return to real police work.
"Now," Sylia pulled a vanilla envelope out from beneath the desk. "There are two sets of keys to a car in the basement and a small building that will serve as your command centre. It was a small electronics manufacturer now empty. I only just purchased it three days ago, so you'll have to furbish it yourself. You're going to have to be careful with expenditure. My own money is tied into Genom and there isn't a lot of money floating around. The accountants I have working here are very good."
"Got it."
"Well you two go check it out. Nigel and Nene will be over in the evening to unload the hardsuits and other equipment."
Outside of the office Daley and Linna waited for the elevator.
"I wasn't expecting that at all," Linna said.
"Worse than I expected." Daley said in turn.
"Do you think we can do it?"
"Sure we can." The elevator doors opened and they stepped in. "This time it won't be a megalomaniac boomer intent on destroying all of humanity but some dangerous men instead."
"That is not very reassuring."
"I'm going to be your boss, too." Daley grinned at Linna.
"That's just great." Linna sighed. "I guess I'll be looking after your ass, then."
End Part I.
It was Daley who gave her the news.
"We're going back to Tokyo," he had said standing in the doorway of her office.
She had jumped up for joy. Between the two of them, her desire to return home was open. Six weeks in Sierra Leone was more than enough, she felt, despite the good intentions of her work. Trying to determine what a third- world strife-torn country was too much for her young years and need for modernity. The job was too big, there were so many petitions and meetings and places to see - Linna thought that she had more work to do than Sylia herself. Sylia only had a single company to run, Sierra Leone had thousands, and millions of people who now looked to Genom for survival.
"I can't wait to get back home," she had gleefully said to Daley. He had been nonchalant, as he often was, replying: "To all the paperwork that has been piling up since we were away." Linna didn't let that fact dampen her spirits. When the day was done she immediately went back to her hotel room and packed up everything. In less than thirty-six hours she was going to be back in Japan, home!
/\/\ss/\/\
Sylia closed her eyes for a moment to rest them.
Despite having a headache, caused by being hit in the head by a metal pipe some days ago and supplemented by her continuing to work - which meant reviewing reports, requests, articles, and problems - from her 106th floor suite, the Chairwoman and CEO of Genom Corporation JPLTC, did not want to (as some would say, she would say she had no choice) get some rest, even though it was 11pm and the wondrous skyline from the wall-height windows was full of blinking red and blue lights, reflected over and over by the glass exteriors of office towers as big as her own, called out siren-like to distract her.
In a few minutes an analyst discussion would be shown and the topic was her company, Genom. By default, that meant she would be talked about as well, and Sylia always liked to know what people thought about her, good or bad. Like any person, she liked only to hear favourable reviews, but she was also realistically pragmatic. Genom and her fate were irreversibly entwined. She was sure the discussion would be mentioned tomorrow, and Candace would definitely bring it up, after all, the blond French knockout always kept her finger on the pulse that was Genom's PR.
The anchor of the financial news program hosting the discussion announced it and Sylia put down the expense report that had been keeping her tiring eyes open.
/\/\ss/\/\
"Tonight's roundtable discussion is about the Genom Corporation. Japan's largest boomer producer, Genom has been involved in the middle of a terrorist strike that destroyed central Tokyo, had its core product: boomers, been proclaimed as unsafe. In general, the company that was on top of the world, is now seemingly falling apart at the seems despite the change of CEO to energetic Sylia Stingray, daughter of the father of boomers.
"With me to discuss Genom's past and more importantly its future, are four experts and correspondents. There is; Suzuhara Fujimori of Japan Global Insurance, Brendan Cartwright of the English language newspaper News Of The World, Masamune Kisagari who is head of Sony Research and Development, and George Negus, noted business reporter for CNNNN.
"Mr Kisagara, let me first ask you this question: what are boomers, why did they make Genom what it was, and how have they contributed to the fall of Genom now?"
Kisagara: "Boomers are sophisticated robots. Dr Stingray was their inventor. He envisioned a sophisticated program, bordering on sentience some would say - although this has not been achieved - that would benefit mankind by performing all the menial and dangerous tasks that were before their introduction, performed by humans. Boomer's benefits of superior strength and tirelessness were shown clearly during the first rebuilding of Tokyo, after The Great Quake. Coupled with aggressive pricing, Genom was able to saturate the market with them and ensure no competition could match their product. The terrorist atrocity of last year probably has no boomer connection, so I would say that boomers have not created Genom's problems. Recent admissions of them going out of control are alarming, but it is Genom's more fundamental problems that are causing it trouble, and a new wave of competition."
Moderator: "So then, Mr Fujimiro, Genom's problems are?"
Fujimori: "Clearly its complicity, or negligence in the terrorist strike. The government has all but blamed its former Chairman for the incident that cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. In fact, the economic cost will not be fully known until Tokyo has been rebuilt and returns to normal, which could take up to a decade. Genom, like many other corporations was badly affected with casualties and destroyed facilities. The cost of moving, legal and insurance claims, have all combined to put the company on the brink of destruction."
Moderator: "Mr Cartwright, Mr Kisagara mentioned new competition. Where did this competition come from, and what is its impact on Genom's weakening monopoly?"
Cartwright: "As you say, Genom used to have a monopoly position on boomer production. That now has changed and it is mostly Genom's fault. Dozens of top researchers and scientists have left the company to be snatched up by rival firms from all over the world who want in on the lucrative boomer business. At the moment Genom is still in the lead but that will quickly change as these competitors get their production lines in gear, and Genom's recent labour issues and near death of its Chairwoman on two occasions only serves to distract them from doing business. Genom is in dire straights, and while I commend Ms Stingray for taking on the task of restructuring the corporation, I don't think a twenty-seven year-old former lingerie shop owner whose father just happens to be the inventor of boomer technology will be able to steady the boat."
Moderator: "Mr Cartwright brings up an interesting point, which I would like to pose to you, Mr Negus. You have met Sylia Stringray, and in dire circumstances. Tell us about her, is she just a 'former lingerie shop owner', or does she have what it takes?"
/\/\ss/\/\
Sylia watched with held breath - unconsciously - as George allowed a little laugh before speaking. "If getting the both of us away from rogue boomers is any indication, then she has more than enough moxie. However, I'm sure that the people she had to deal with, outside and insider her own company, are far more dangerous than any boomer. Sylia Stingray is a tough and resourceful woman who has placed herself into a very difficult situation. Governments, competition, lawsuits, they're all trying to bring down what was the powerhouse megacorporation of our time. Just her intention to try and save Genom should be all the proof anyone needs that she is serious. After the death of the previous Chairman, Genom tried to hire out and there were no takers. Rumours of internal politicking abounded and the company looked like it was going to spiral out of control and become the largest corporate crash in the history of mankind."
"That can still happen," Fujimori said.
"Of course," George rapidly continued, not liking the interruption, nor Fujimori, as Sylia could see on his face with astounding clarity, "But it won't because of Sylia. I'm impressed with this young woman, my dad would have said that she's got two great brass ones-"
Sylia coughed loudly, then cleared her throat, smiling afterwards.
"The Stingray genes have passed on into her. Already we've seen Genom recover from its hemorrhaging or staff and talent. Its become more forthcoming with information, Genom of old would never have admitted to rogue boomers and the lack of Genom propaganda is starkly evident. Sylia is cleaning up the company and going a good job. If Genom succeeds it will be because of her, a lingerie store owner as you said. But she has to keep a tight reign on Genom. I'm sure that there are many high level executives that don't like having to take orders from a woman - irrespective of previous occupation - and another Stingray."
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your answers. After the break we will continue and discuss the new competition Genom is going to have to face. From Europe we have the French-Holland BMC, India's Labourmen and the American government's Department of Technology. All of these companies have former Genom boomer engineers. Who will be the first to challenge Genom? And will Chairwoman Stingray's dire warnings on safety be heeded?" the Moderator fore-claimed.
"And where have the Knight Sabres gone?" Kisagara said under his breath, but audible enough for Sylia to hear. And she smiled.
/\/\ss/\/\
"To Haruga!" Leon raised his stein high into the air, the white foam head of the lager bobbing precariously close to spilling over the rim.
A dozen other steins rose up to surround his, the men and support staff of his RRT shouting out their fallen comrades name. That done they drank deeply.
"Damn fine stuff," 'Chief' Roland clapped the burly Leon on the back.
"Careful, Nic," Leon growled, "Don't want to spill this."
"So you've heard the news?" Roland sat down on a round stool by the bar. The Genom security team had taken over the bar for their own use, everyone else ushered out and the sign on the door switched to closed. The keep didn't mind, Leon and his crew were regulars, and ran up a good tab anyway.
"You mean Daley, right?"
"Yeah. It's a little early for him to come back, don't you think?"
Leon looked down into his half-empty, or was it half-full? stein. "Work out of the office, Chief? I think that means you have to buy the next round."
Someone overheard and shouted out: "Hey, the Chief's buying the next round!" And there were cheers.
Roland shrugged. "I'm sure as heck that Sierra Leone hasn't just become safe all of a sudden. And then there's been the increase in incidents, mostly involving our esteemed Chairwoman and boss Sylia."
"You think too much," Leon said, inside he felt uneasy however.
"At least I think," Roland replied with a hearty laugh, "but that's not in your job description, is it?"
"Funny, very funny."
After the bar had to finally close at 2am, Leon decided that it would be better if he walked home. The air was fresh and the roads mostly empty. He didn't live far away and wasn't on watch tomorrow - today - he corrected himself. Today was an off day. He'd still pop into the building, fire off some rounds, see if Nene had found out anything on Priss - the mystery woman of his sleepless nights.
Leon didn't think about Priss as he walked home. He was thinking about what the Chief had alluded to. He was right, Daley was being brought back for a reason that probably had to do with the danger Sylia was in. In the past, Leon wouldn't have thought much of that. Sylia as head of the boomer destruction force known as the Knight Sabres, had always been able to take care of herself before. But now there were no Knight Sabres. Priss was gone. Sylia was running Genom, no way she'd have time to fly around in her hardsuit. That left the other two, Linna who held a special position in Sylia. She was coming back with Daley. And Nene, who was still as annoying as before. At least they didn't see each other as often. But she was still doing her job and had helped nail the guy who had tried to kill Sylia a week ago. Still Leon didn't see how effective the Sabres would be without Priss. He remembered the first time the green and red went it alone. It had almost been a catastrophe.
The former cop, now leader of what he thought of as the replacement to the Knight Sabres, kept thinking - being a detective - as Daley would ridicule his preference to charge in head first, about the incidents. He knew that the first wasn't about rogue boomers but controlled ones, just like the last had been. There didn't seem to be a connection between the two, the employee Satoshi had controlled his boomer in a less sophisticated way than the ones from Tokyo, which had been mutated.
That someone from inside the company had tried to kill Sylia was chilling. It made his resources feel stretched too thin. One group in Tokyo, primarily there as a PR stunt to help Genom get the TQZ reconstruction tender, and the other here with him. He shuttled between them on alternate weeks, which was annoying, but he had two investigations to track now. Investigations had always been Daley's strong suit. Maybe that's why he was being recalled. It would be a good idea. Genom, and Sylia, had far more enemies in Japan than she did in some small African country.
/\/\ss/\/\
George Negus was glad the show was over and he could get home, have a bite of something stale to eat, and then go to sleep, well deserved. The talk had been tiring and the reporter found it difficult enough to be in the same country as Masamune Kisagara, let alone the around the same table. He was insufferable, an ego to match the salary Sony paid him. Too bad I couldn't sledge him about Sony's failed attempts to acquire boomer technology.
As soon as he stepped out of the station's lobby his cellular rang.
"Hello, Negus speaking."
"Good evening, Mr Negus. I'm calling to thank you for defending me on your show tonight."
"Sylia!" George blurted out, surprised.
"Yes," her amusement traveled down the line.
George collected himself. "So you were watching then?" regretting it immediately. Of course she had been watching, she'd just told him that. What an idiot.
"Yes. I quite enjoyed it. I take it that you don't like that Kisagara fellow very much?"
"No, I don't. Ah-" how astute.
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I don't like him either."
"I'll certainly say that I didn't expect you to call. I hope no one knows, they may think that my journalistic integrity has been compromised. Sleeping with the enemy, you know." George started off to the car park, almost tripping when Sylia's laughter, quite loud, struck him in the ear.
"I didn't expect us to go that far so soon."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Just the medication I have to take for my headaches,"
"How are you - it was a shock to hear about what happened."
"Fine. There is another reason why I called."
George noticed the change of her tone to one more serious and business like immediately. "And that was?" he asked cautiously.
"Your interview."
For a moment George was dumbfounded. Then he remembered. "Oh, right. The interview I asked for in Tokyo. Although I recollect that you said something about a date."
"That I did, Mr Negus." Sylia's laughter returned. She sounded exceptionally cheerful after two attempts on her life. "Still want it? Exclusive interview with the head of Genom corporation. Then you'll really be able to see how big my brass ones are."
"Ah, sorry about that. If I'd known that you were watching."
"Well? I'm a busy woman. Any other reporter in Japan would kill to interview me. I have a whole department just to tell them to get lost."
"It's a date then."
"Good. Tomorrow night suit you?" Sylia asked him.
"Sure. It's about time I saw what the Genom corporation has done to Osaka."
/\/\ss/\/\
"Sylia, I think that this is a bad idea-" Candace implored. It made her face look unattractive and added a whine to her voice.
"It's going to happen." Sylia stated her position. "It's about time the press had some access to me. Otherwise they'll get harder in their attacks no matter what we do. Last week took off another twenty percent of our stock price, irrespective that the situation with the factory is now under control and will be completed."
"I know, but you should have discussed this with me, that's what I'm here fore isn't it?" Candace sat on the desk next to Sylia, as she was doing all the time now in private meetings. "Plus, I don't know about this guy, George Negus. To be fair he is respected here but he certainly isn't the heavy weight that your first interviewer should be like."
"You would prefer?" Sylia inquired and a slight upturn of her mouth. She liked it when those around her were a little off-guard or nervous.
"Someone like Brian Winters or Connie Lau."
"Of CNNNN? Candace, I don't want some news celebrity who will be more interested in their own 'performance' than the interview."
"I would have made sure that the list of questions was approved first. Now that you've gone ahead we won't be able to do that." Candace crossed her legs.
"Doctored questions would not be a good idea. Anyway, I have nothing to hide," Sylia patted Candace's knee. The French woman was wearing a skirt as usual. She uncrossed and re-crossed her legs again, very deliberately for Sylia this time, with her attention drawn to taking her hand away. Candace could see the linger of the eyes. She decided to get up, give Sylia a little disappointment.
"Just remember, I'm not happy with this," Candace waved a finger, mock- scolding, in front of Sylia's grinning face. "And considering where you are having the interview, it sounds more intimate."
"Heaven forbid. Is my personal life going to have to go through you as well?" Sylia asked. Candace was good for her stress relief. Not like the rest of the senior executives and board members.
"I'll seriously think about it. Now I've got important work to do, and you're still 'healing' remember." Candace waved and swayed out of the office.
Sylia leant back into her chair and rubbed her forehead. The bandage wrapped around was covered in a bright patterned scarf, her secretary exclaiming that pirates had invaded the building. "Ha ha," she had replied breezing past. Fortunately she didn't have a lot of work on. Her next meeting was with Linna and Daley. It was going to be important, maybe one of the most important of her life. Certainly her future.
/\/\ss/\/\
"Here we are! Home at last. Stop me if I try and kiss the ground," Linna squealed in joy as the jet rolled to a stop on the expansive tarmac of Osake-Kobe International.
"To say that you are happy to be back is an understatement," Daley said. He unclasped his belt and stood up to get their cases down from the overhead racks.
"You have a problem with that, Mr Wong?"
"Not at all. Now you won't be so hard to work with."
"What does that mean?" Linna put her hands on her hips, looking cross.
"You weren't terribly enthusiastic back in Freetown."
"Well you get kidnapped and - oh. Sorry. I guess I was bad company after that. I really thought it would be a good experience, helping all those poor people."
Daley shrugged. "We weren't going to make miracles happen overnight. But you were wrong on one account,"
"Which is?" Linna said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"You weren't all that bad company. If it had been you and Leon, well."
"I'd rather not think about it. That man, ugh." She shivered.
"I'm glad it was you, Daley. It made it bearable. God, I wish I was still a Knight Sabre and not an office woman again!"
Daley almost said something but checked his tongue just in time. Like Leon he had been thinking about why the two of them had been recalled. He had a pretty good idea. Taking up Linna's hand luggage he followed her out of the plane, watching her skirt enclosed hips with a smile, what had made it bearable for him.
/\/\ss/\/\
"I just can't wait for how the rest of the press will react tomorrow," Candace gave another little push.
"They won't believe a word that this Negus man will write. They'll think he's been bought off by Genom, or Ms Stingray's 'personal charm'." Itto said caustically.
"You watched him last night?"
"Yes. He's the one from Tokyo?"
Candace nodded. Itto was seated on his office sofa while she stayed by the window looking outwards. Her physical distance agitated the Genom marketing director. He hadn't had her in almost a week now and the loss was getting to him. She was there, in his eyes, but untouchable. She'd taken off the suit jacket that she'd worn in Sylia's office. There it had been buttoned just below her chest, pressing it together for Sylia. Her shirt was cream, bra beneath black. Clearly noticeable to Itto, distressing him further. Too busy thinking with his groin when she was around and not his real head. It was going to cost him. Fatally.
"That's right. I tried to dissuade her but she didn't listen."
"The bitch doesn't." Itto was smarting over the loss of his man Satoshi and the failure to get rid of Sylia.
Candace was surprised at the venom in Itto's words. She decided to stoke the fire. "I even asked her about the venue. I think you're right about her. Something as bad as an affair with a journalist can only hurt Genom."
"He's married?" Itto asked, hopeful.
Candace shrugged.
"The rest of the media will attack us for getting into bed with him. Trying to get favourable coverage."
"He is positive towards Genom, well Sylia actually, now."
"You should have done something about it."
"I tried,"
"She will destroy us." Itto proclaimed.
"I don't think it will go that far," Candace smiled into the glass window.
"It may be little now but it will build up. All the small events will come together and then we will find that they cannot be controlled. I knew that she was just a woman. She doesn't have the strength to run Genom."
Candace's smiled turned to barely concealed anger. As a woman she had accomplished much. Sylia has already done more than you could ever, Itto. Why did I waste my time with you?
"What are you going to do about her then? Incidents will keep happening while she remains as Chairman."
"Something. I'll do something, but better if you don't concern yourself."
More man's work? Candace didn't say, although she knew that's what Itto meant. Damn the Japanese.
/\/\ss/\/\
"I thought this was going to be a debriefing?" Linna said with growing dismay.
Sylia shrugged. "I'll go through your reports later. Genom has more pressing matters to attend to first. Notably its survival, and mine. You know about Tokyo and the construction site?"
Linna and Daley nodded.
"Good. You know that neither was a rogue incident. Both times the boomers were remote controlled. At the construction site this was by one of our own employees. We don't have a motive for the attacks on the site and me. Up until now the employee was considered a good and hard worker. The Tokyo attack we believe was conducted by an external party. Of the two its hard to judge which is the most dangerous. I know nothing about either and that has to change. Boomers are a threat to the safety of the planet. Before Galatea they were restricted to Genom and I could manage that with the Knight Sabres. That's impossible now. I need the resources of Genom to continue the war. I need you two to find out who my threats are."
Linna and Daley rocked back in their seats. Daley had been expecting something, but this and what it entailed, his mind already working on the scope, was more than he had bargained for.
"Sylia, what are you saying?" Linna asked.
"I need the Knight Sabres again, Linna. Only a few know who we are and they all work for me," although one was missing, "The Knight Sabres were the nemesis of Genom. They've been absent for a while, but the return of rogue boomers will bring them out of the mothballs."
"And their aim is to find out who is attacking Genom?" Daley said.
"Correct. It is good cover, better than you might expect. Everyone things the Knight Sabres are against Genom. That means who ever is trying to kill me won't think of you as enemies. They might try to hire you as allies."
"But what about the Grasshoppers? Anyone can see that they resemble our hardsuits-"
"Doubtfully, Linna. Not enough to make a direct, provable, connection. The RRT's can't be used for this assignment for another reason: there isn't the manpower to spare. The RRTs were created to handle rogue boomers when they occur next. That is still their job."
"Will they know about us?" Daley asked. It was a good question.
"No. Leon will probably suspect something is up when he hears about the return of the Knight Sabres. He, and the rest, are going to be kept out of the loop. That's an added danger for you."
"I bet. Many in the ADP don't remember you all too well," Daley said.
"What?" exclaimed Linna, "You mean we might have our own troops after us?"
"Possibly. Hopefully Leon will handle it."
Daley hoped so too.
Linna was chewing on her lip. "Well, I know this is important work, Sylia, but its not going to be like before, is it?"
Sylia shook her head. "I won't be able to be as involved as I would like. But I've got enough work here running Genom as it is. That's why I'm putting Daley in command." There were surprised looks exchanged. "Daley, you have the investigative skills required for this assignment. I can't get a hardsuit made up for you, unless you think you can run in high heels?"
"Uh." Daley stammered, "I don't think I've quite got the figure either to be afraid."
"A Grasshopper will be handed over, but it will only be available for emergency situations." Sylia said.
"Then it's just going to be me and Nene?" Linna said somewhat downcast. No more Priss. No Sylia. She thought she should be ecstatic to know that she was going to be in a hardsuit again, but.
"Yes. I know that you're thinking about Priss. I am too. But there's nothing we can do. She's just. disappeared."
"What about Nigel and Mackey?" Linna asked.
"They'll be support again. They'll have the time soon when the factory becomes operational and the new boomers are in production."
"That is still months away."
Sylia nodded. "Time is not in great supply. I'm sorry to put this burden on you, but."
"Don't worry, Sylia. We understand." Linna said with conviction. As was to be expected of her. Sylia had been counting on it. She smiled at the younger woman. "How was your birthday?"
"Oh. Terrible."
"I'm sorry." Sylia said, "I'll make it up to you - both of you."
"When do we start then?" Daley asked. He was feeling the eagerness growing. A return to real police work.
"Now," Sylia pulled a vanilla envelope out from beneath the desk. "There are two sets of keys to a car in the basement and a small building that will serve as your command centre. It was a small electronics manufacturer now empty. I only just purchased it three days ago, so you'll have to furbish it yourself. You're going to have to be careful with expenditure. My own money is tied into Genom and there isn't a lot of money floating around. The accountants I have working here are very good."
"Got it."
"Well you two go check it out. Nigel and Nene will be over in the evening to unload the hardsuits and other equipment."
Outside of the office Daley and Linna waited for the elevator.
"I wasn't expecting that at all," Linna said.
"Worse than I expected." Daley said in turn.
"Do you think we can do it?"
"Sure we can." The elevator doors opened and they stepped in. "This time it won't be a megalomaniac boomer intent on destroying all of humanity but some dangerous men instead."
"That is not very reassuring."
"I'm going to be your boss, too." Daley grinned at Linna.
"That's just great." Linna sighed. "I guess I'll be looking after your ass, then."
End Part I.