Bubble Gum HYTE (Fan-fic)
Source: Bubble Gum Crisis/Crash
Author: LV426
Chapter 19: Immortality
"What was that, Priss?" Linna asked. She had only now as they waited for the elevator become aware of Priss muttering something under her breath.
"Nothing," came the sullen response, but a look from Linna told Priss she hadn't convinced her. "I just don't know why they had to keep her here. You KNOW I don't like the ADP!"
"And would you rather the regular hospital? We all know you cant like that very much either," Linna thought to herself, but stopped herself from saying. No one could forget that was where Leon had been killed, and she was ashamed she even thought of using that against her friend.
Sylia, for her part said nothing. She knew it wouldn't be easy for Priss to be here right now, but Nene needed her friends, and Priss would be strong enough to be there for her. She also knew any quibbling would be over before they reached the medical center, so it was best to let her friends vent right now. With a ding, the elevator door opened, and they all stepped inside.
The ride up to the 16th floor was silent, as each of the sabers kept their thoughts to themselves. Only Sylia had been there to see just how badly hurt Nene was by the killing machine, but she had yet to reveal anything to her friends. Rather, she seemed to retreat into herself as of late, as if considering just what she could or had to do. Such actions from her was normally a bad sign, and they had all learned not to ask questions till she was ready to talk.
With one more bell, the door opened, revealing the medical wing of the AMP headquarters. Silent, they all filed out, Sylia leading as she made a direct path for the receptionist's desk. The young woman behind the desk looked up with lifeless LED lit eyes. "Hello, Madam. How can I help you?" While the voice was far from emotionless, it was also far from human.
"Yes. A friend of ours is being kept here. A Ms. Nene Romanova."
"Yeah... I heard about what happened. Poor thing must have been petrified to have that monster chase her through here. It shouldn't have even made it in the building though..." The boomer looked away to a terminal built into the desk. This was only for show, however, as it was connected to the desk itself, complete with an internal feed. "Here she is. Room 18. Should I let her know your coming?"
"No thank you. I think she would be happier to see us as a surprise."
"Well, she could probably use a little cheering up. I'll let the doctor know you're here. Have a nice day!"
"Thank you." Sylia turned to look back at her fellow Sabers. "Lets go."
It didn't take very long to find the room, and even less time for Sylia to knock on the door.
"Who is it this time?" came the exasperated response.
Smiling gently, Sylia opened the door. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Nene was sitting in her medical bed under the sheets, her arm completely casted, only a small monitoring tool on the outside of it. The cast was supported by cushioned braces across her chest and to her rib-cage. The previous annoyance in her voice gave way to surprised happiness as she saw her friends in the doorway. "HEY!!!!" She jumped up like she was going to rush them at the door, but didn't leave the bed, wincing slightly. "Oww..." she whimpered.
"Well hello to you too, Nene," Sylia responded, the smile still there.
"NENE! Are you alright?" came the concerned cry from behind her as Linna burst into the room.
Nene looked up to nod slowly, a quiet smile still on her face.
"What happened to you?"
Nene didn't answer right away, blushing deep red. "I, kinda almost hit Astis with my bike."
"You WHAT?" This time, it was Priss' turn to respond, and her voice complimented the rather angry glare in her eye. "If I ever see that metal piece of shit again..."
"It wasn't his fault," Nene quickly stammered.
"The hell it ISNT!"
"Priss..." Nene's voice was oddly quiet as she looked down at her sheets.
"What?" came the annoyed reply.
"He saved my life..." After a few seconds of silence, she continued. "The boomer we have been chasing came after me, but he destroyed it before it could."
"It came here?" Linna piped up, astonished.
"Yes, and way too early to gather you all. He even got there before I did," Sylia added matter of factly. "We all owe him for helping us, and for saving a dear friend."
Priss grumbled, the idea of owing a boomer anything not sitting well with her.
"Why? Why would you help our enemy?"
The glow of the terminal monitor with this message flashing across it was all the greeting he got when Astis returned to his apartment the next day. Despite being a boomer, he couldn't hold back the urge to sigh. He knew this was coming.
He hadn't turned on his internal modem since destroying the killing machine, but he knew Armstrong had seen it, and would demand answers of him. He approached the terminal, and began to type. "The machine I destroyed was designed to kill humans, and it would do nothing more."
"You have a soft spot for humans, then?"
"They are not the enemy."
"But that one was one of the enemy. That one was one of the Knight Sabers."
"I know she was."
"Then WHY did you protect her?"
"Because they are not the enemy."
There was no response right away. "They destroy our kind! How are they not the enemy?"
"They do not destroy without reason."
"Exactly! No one does. Their reason is to keep our kind in line."
Astis shook his head. "I do not believe so."
"Explain your reason."
"I have met them before, and their personalities don't match that kind of reasoning."
"So you chose them over a potential ally who was doing our kind a favor, then?"
"That machine was a killer with no other reason to exist. That was it's design and it's purpose."
"It was yours too, my friend."
Astis stopped typing. If he had been human, he could describe the sensation that hit him as emotional pain, but as of now, did not have the words for it. "It was, once, and if that is all you see in me, you are not my friend."
"You have already decided that Astis. You chose my enemies as your friends. Now you pay the price." The terminal went dead, leaving Astis alone with his thoughts.
Without a sound, he stood up, turned to the door, and walked outside, never to return to the apartment again.
Kou waited in the fault, his car parked just on the edge. This was the second time the Knight Sabers had chosen this place to meet, but just as it made sense then, it made sense now. He was early, as tended to be his nature, and now he waited to see the vigilantes walk into view.
"How much longer is it going to be?" The complaint came from behind him, where Moria leaned against a wall of earth, looking impatient.
"Not much," came his quiet reply as he gazed at his watch. "They are professional, and as such, punctual."
Moria didn't reply. She knew she should be glad these Knight Sabers have done their job, but she couldn't help but feel cheated of the chance to get even herself. She looked up toward Kou, but her attention quickly turned to the figure who just landed about 20 feet away, and was now approaching them.
Kou also noticed as the metallic glint on the figure's armor became apparent. "Ah, you arrive, my lady. And where is your team?"
"They are comforting one of our own. In destroying the boomer, one of our members was badly wounded, and is now in medical care."
"Then it is destroyed?"
"Yes."
"And did you find out who sent it?"
"Yes. It was Dr. Miriam Yoshida who sent the boomer to kill Ms. Chan and Officer Leon McNichol. We don't know why he chose to have Ms. Chan killed, but Officer McNichol was the one who arrested him, and it's quite possible he was targeted for revenge."
"I see..."
"But, but Yoshida's dead!" Moria spoke up, her voice betraying her disbelief.
The silver Knight Saber nodded solemnly. "Sadly, he is. So we will probably never know why he chose to target her."
"No. That thing was still active after he had died, so it must have been taking orders from someone else! Don't you understand that?"
"I understand you are getting very personally involved, and not looking at the facts as they stand." The reply was cold, and struck Moria like a slap in the face. The Knight Saber paused a moment before continuing, "More then likely, it was obeying it's last command it was given before it's master was murdered."
Moria just looked at the Knight Saber, her face slowly changing from shock to anger. However, it was Kou that would speak first. "Thank you, for your assistance in these matters. I am satisfied for now that you have completed your end of the bargain, though if you come across anything else, I would be grateful personally if you would let me know." He bowed in respect, as the Knight Saber did the same. "You can expect your payment wired in by tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sir. Now, if you will pardon me, I have other pressing matters I must attend to." She turned calmly to Moria, who still was obviously wounded from before. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Though I pray next time it will be on better terms." She bowed to Moria before turning and jumping out of the vault, and out of sight.
Moria, however, did not bow, and she watched as the Saber faded from view.
"You should have more respect for those who help you out, Moria." Kou's words could have been friendly advice, but she somehow doubted it.
"I don't pay liars with respect."
"There are still questions, yes. But they would not have hidden anything involving Reika Chan. That is what they were contracted to find out, and they have done so." He turned and began to climb back to the car. "Come. We have to report these events."
Moria stayed a moment longer, turning to the fault keeping her face hidden from Kou. "Maybe, but my affairs are deeper then that. If they are hiding something, they will pay... I swear it." She turned back to Kou, resolution in her steps as she also began to climb.
He was now inside. He was wondering how truly sane he was, but he was back inside the ADP headquarters. It had helped that it seemed most security personnel were away from the building, but he still had to be careful. Astis was known by both his face and a missing arm, and he couldn't let himself be seen by the guards who had seen him yesterday.
Still, he had to see Nene one more time. He had to make sure she was alright before he left the city entirely. After all, it was him that caused her to need medical attention. He stepped out of the elevator and strolled into the hallway, as confident looking as ever, keeping perfect stride as he approached the nurse at the front desk.
For her part, the nurse didn't look up. "Can I help you, sir?" came the casual response.
"Yes, please. I'm looking for a Nene Romanova. I was told she was being treated here?" he replied.
The nurse only now looked up at him. "You too? She has been quite popular today."
Astis was silent. He had a good guess who would go visit her, but he wouldn't say anything now. The nurse didn't recognize him. She wouldn't and he knew it. He had risked using his modem one last time to alter the information on him. They would find out fairly soon, but too late to catch him. He would be long gone.
"Mustn't have been friends of yours then. Ah well. She is in room 18. But please, be quick, she needs her rest still."
"Of course. Thank you very much." Without another word, he made his way in the same stride to Nene's room and knocked.
He heard Nene moan slightly as a human tends to do when first awakened. "Who is it?" came the sleepy reply.
"Hello, Nene. It's me." He heard her gasp, and spoke quickly before his name could be mentioned. "May I come in?"
"Yes... yes of course."
He opened the door and stepped inside, where Nene sat on her bed, wide-eyed with d. "Hello, Nene. It's good to see you feeling better already."
"What are you doing here?" Nene managed to stammer. "If they find you here, you are going to be nothing but scrap!"
"Please don't worry about it. I made sure I have the time," he looked in her eyes, and the concern genuinely touched him. "Listen, I had to make sure you were alright... and explain a few things."
"Explain what? What could be so important as to risk..."
Astis interrupted her, "Nene. Back when you got hurt, I heard you talk to yourself when you saw..." He decided not to finish the statement, considering where they were. He gestured to his remaining arm waiting for her to nod understand. "I just felt..."
"Astis... it's alright. I understand." Her tone was calm and maybe a little soft, as if the fact that he wanted to talk on it touched her. But her urgency returned. "But you don't have much time. Please. Get going before you get caught!"
Astis nodded. "Alright. I'm going. May me meet again one day, Nene. Farewell." With a bow, he turned and walked out of the door, out of the building, and soon, out of the city.
She sipped at her wine slowly and watched the horizon. The sun was setting, and normally she would watch the beauty of the horizon at this time. Now, however, her mind was not on the scene before her. Instead, it traveled down paths she could imagining happening in the future. She knew he was still out there, and more importantly, that he was still plotting to wipe out the entire human race.
"How? How did Largo survive?" she asked herself, barely mouthing the words. But she already had an idea of how that happened too. If she was right, then she was a fool for ever considering the idea that she had killed him last time.
She tried to take some relief in the fact that she and her friends had stopped him this time, but she knew that too, was also foolish. "He will be back. With how he is now, we got off easy." With a sigh, she took another sip.
"But what can we do? We can only stop him for so long... then we will be gone," she added to herself, unable to bring herself to even consider the conclusion. She knew she couldn't stop him now. It would be impossible without wiping out technology. He was now immortal, and as such, time was forever on his side. Knowing her odds, she sipped again and looked out into the horizon, it's beauty lost on her rather hopeless mood. And somewhere over the horizon, she could swear she heard him laughing at her.
The End
Source: Bubble Gum Crisis/Crash
Author: LV426
Chapter 19: Immortality
"What was that, Priss?" Linna asked. She had only now as they waited for the elevator become aware of Priss muttering something under her breath.
"Nothing," came the sullen response, but a look from Linna told Priss she hadn't convinced her. "I just don't know why they had to keep her here. You KNOW I don't like the ADP!"
"And would you rather the regular hospital? We all know you cant like that very much either," Linna thought to herself, but stopped herself from saying. No one could forget that was where Leon had been killed, and she was ashamed she even thought of using that against her friend.
Sylia, for her part said nothing. She knew it wouldn't be easy for Priss to be here right now, but Nene needed her friends, and Priss would be strong enough to be there for her. She also knew any quibbling would be over before they reached the medical center, so it was best to let her friends vent right now. With a ding, the elevator door opened, and they all stepped inside.
The ride up to the 16th floor was silent, as each of the sabers kept their thoughts to themselves. Only Sylia had been there to see just how badly hurt Nene was by the killing machine, but she had yet to reveal anything to her friends. Rather, she seemed to retreat into herself as of late, as if considering just what she could or had to do. Such actions from her was normally a bad sign, and they had all learned not to ask questions till she was ready to talk.
With one more bell, the door opened, revealing the medical wing of the AMP headquarters. Silent, they all filed out, Sylia leading as she made a direct path for the receptionist's desk. The young woman behind the desk looked up with lifeless LED lit eyes. "Hello, Madam. How can I help you?" While the voice was far from emotionless, it was also far from human.
"Yes. A friend of ours is being kept here. A Ms. Nene Romanova."
"Yeah... I heard about what happened. Poor thing must have been petrified to have that monster chase her through here. It shouldn't have even made it in the building though..." The boomer looked away to a terminal built into the desk. This was only for show, however, as it was connected to the desk itself, complete with an internal feed. "Here she is. Room 18. Should I let her know your coming?"
"No thank you. I think she would be happier to see us as a surprise."
"Well, she could probably use a little cheering up. I'll let the doctor know you're here. Have a nice day!"
"Thank you." Sylia turned to look back at her fellow Sabers. "Lets go."
It didn't take very long to find the room, and even less time for Sylia to knock on the door.
"Who is it this time?" came the exasperated response.
Smiling gently, Sylia opened the door. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Nene was sitting in her medical bed under the sheets, her arm completely casted, only a small monitoring tool on the outside of it. The cast was supported by cushioned braces across her chest and to her rib-cage. The previous annoyance in her voice gave way to surprised happiness as she saw her friends in the doorway. "HEY!!!!" She jumped up like she was going to rush them at the door, but didn't leave the bed, wincing slightly. "Oww..." she whimpered.
"Well hello to you too, Nene," Sylia responded, the smile still there.
"NENE! Are you alright?" came the concerned cry from behind her as Linna burst into the room.
Nene looked up to nod slowly, a quiet smile still on her face.
"What happened to you?"
Nene didn't answer right away, blushing deep red. "I, kinda almost hit Astis with my bike."
"You WHAT?" This time, it was Priss' turn to respond, and her voice complimented the rather angry glare in her eye. "If I ever see that metal piece of shit again..."
"It wasn't his fault," Nene quickly stammered.
"The hell it ISNT!"
"Priss..." Nene's voice was oddly quiet as she looked down at her sheets.
"What?" came the annoyed reply.
"He saved my life..." After a few seconds of silence, she continued. "The boomer we have been chasing came after me, but he destroyed it before it could."
"It came here?" Linna piped up, astonished.
"Yes, and way too early to gather you all. He even got there before I did," Sylia added matter of factly. "We all owe him for helping us, and for saving a dear friend."
Priss grumbled, the idea of owing a boomer anything not sitting well with her.
"Why? Why would you help our enemy?"
The glow of the terminal monitor with this message flashing across it was all the greeting he got when Astis returned to his apartment the next day. Despite being a boomer, he couldn't hold back the urge to sigh. He knew this was coming.
He hadn't turned on his internal modem since destroying the killing machine, but he knew Armstrong had seen it, and would demand answers of him. He approached the terminal, and began to type. "The machine I destroyed was designed to kill humans, and it would do nothing more."
"You have a soft spot for humans, then?"
"They are not the enemy."
"But that one was one of the enemy. That one was one of the Knight Sabers."
"I know she was."
"Then WHY did you protect her?"
"Because they are not the enemy."
There was no response right away. "They destroy our kind! How are they not the enemy?"
"They do not destroy without reason."
"Exactly! No one does. Their reason is to keep our kind in line."
Astis shook his head. "I do not believe so."
"Explain your reason."
"I have met them before, and their personalities don't match that kind of reasoning."
"So you chose them over a potential ally who was doing our kind a favor, then?"
"That machine was a killer with no other reason to exist. That was it's design and it's purpose."
"It was yours too, my friend."
Astis stopped typing. If he had been human, he could describe the sensation that hit him as emotional pain, but as of now, did not have the words for it. "It was, once, and if that is all you see in me, you are not my friend."
"You have already decided that Astis. You chose my enemies as your friends. Now you pay the price." The terminal went dead, leaving Astis alone with his thoughts.
Without a sound, he stood up, turned to the door, and walked outside, never to return to the apartment again.
Kou waited in the fault, his car parked just on the edge. This was the second time the Knight Sabers had chosen this place to meet, but just as it made sense then, it made sense now. He was early, as tended to be his nature, and now he waited to see the vigilantes walk into view.
"How much longer is it going to be?" The complaint came from behind him, where Moria leaned against a wall of earth, looking impatient.
"Not much," came his quiet reply as he gazed at his watch. "They are professional, and as such, punctual."
Moria didn't reply. She knew she should be glad these Knight Sabers have done their job, but she couldn't help but feel cheated of the chance to get even herself. She looked up toward Kou, but her attention quickly turned to the figure who just landed about 20 feet away, and was now approaching them.
Kou also noticed as the metallic glint on the figure's armor became apparent. "Ah, you arrive, my lady. And where is your team?"
"They are comforting one of our own. In destroying the boomer, one of our members was badly wounded, and is now in medical care."
"Then it is destroyed?"
"Yes."
"And did you find out who sent it?"
"Yes. It was Dr. Miriam Yoshida who sent the boomer to kill Ms. Chan and Officer Leon McNichol. We don't know why he chose to have Ms. Chan killed, but Officer McNichol was the one who arrested him, and it's quite possible he was targeted for revenge."
"I see..."
"But, but Yoshida's dead!" Moria spoke up, her voice betraying her disbelief.
The silver Knight Saber nodded solemnly. "Sadly, he is. So we will probably never know why he chose to target her."
"No. That thing was still active after he had died, so it must have been taking orders from someone else! Don't you understand that?"
"I understand you are getting very personally involved, and not looking at the facts as they stand." The reply was cold, and struck Moria like a slap in the face. The Knight Saber paused a moment before continuing, "More then likely, it was obeying it's last command it was given before it's master was murdered."
Moria just looked at the Knight Saber, her face slowly changing from shock to anger. However, it was Kou that would speak first. "Thank you, for your assistance in these matters. I am satisfied for now that you have completed your end of the bargain, though if you come across anything else, I would be grateful personally if you would let me know." He bowed in respect, as the Knight Saber did the same. "You can expect your payment wired in by tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sir. Now, if you will pardon me, I have other pressing matters I must attend to." She turned calmly to Moria, who still was obviously wounded from before. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Though I pray next time it will be on better terms." She bowed to Moria before turning and jumping out of the vault, and out of sight.
Moria, however, did not bow, and she watched as the Saber faded from view.
"You should have more respect for those who help you out, Moria." Kou's words could have been friendly advice, but she somehow doubted it.
"I don't pay liars with respect."
"There are still questions, yes. But they would not have hidden anything involving Reika Chan. That is what they were contracted to find out, and they have done so." He turned and began to climb back to the car. "Come. We have to report these events."
Moria stayed a moment longer, turning to the fault keeping her face hidden from Kou. "Maybe, but my affairs are deeper then that. If they are hiding something, they will pay... I swear it." She turned back to Kou, resolution in her steps as she also began to climb.
He was now inside. He was wondering how truly sane he was, but he was back inside the ADP headquarters. It had helped that it seemed most security personnel were away from the building, but he still had to be careful. Astis was known by both his face and a missing arm, and he couldn't let himself be seen by the guards who had seen him yesterday.
Still, he had to see Nene one more time. He had to make sure she was alright before he left the city entirely. After all, it was him that caused her to need medical attention. He stepped out of the elevator and strolled into the hallway, as confident looking as ever, keeping perfect stride as he approached the nurse at the front desk.
For her part, the nurse didn't look up. "Can I help you, sir?" came the casual response.
"Yes, please. I'm looking for a Nene Romanova. I was told she was being treated here?" he replied.
The nurse only now looked up at him. "You too? She has been quite popular today."
Astis was silent. He had a good guess who would go visit her, but he wouldn't say anything now. The nurse didn't recognize him. She wouldn't and he knew it. He had risked using his modem one last time to alter the information on him. They would find out fairly soon, but too late to catch him. He would be long gone.
"Mustn't have been friends of yours then. Ah well. She is in room 18. But please, be quick, she needs her rest still."
"Of course. Thank you very much." Without another word, he made his way in the same stride to Nene's room and knocked.
He heard Nene moan slightly as a human tends to do when first awakened. "Who is it?" came the sleepy reply.
"Hello, Nene. It's me." He heard her gasp, and spoke quickly before his name could be mentioned. "May I come in?"
"Yes... yes of course."
He opened the door and stepped inside, where Nene sat on her bed, wide-eyed with d. "Hello, Nene. It's good to see you feeling better already."
"What are you doing here?" Nene managed to stammer. "If they find you here, you are going to be nothing but scrap!"
"Please don't worry about it. I made sure I have the time," he looked in her eyes, and the concern genuinely touched him. "Listen, I had to make sure you were alright... and explain a few things."
"Explain what? What could be so important as to risk..."
Astis interrupted her, "Nene. Back when you got hurt, I heard you talk to yourself when you saw..." He decided not to finish the statement, considering where they were. He gestured to his remaining arm waiting for her to nod understand. "I just felt..."
"Astis... it's alright. I understand." Her tone was calm and maybe a little soft, as if the fact that he wanted to talk on it touched her. But her urgency returned. "But you don't have much time. Please. Get going before you get caught!"
Astis nodded. "Alright. I'm going. May me meet again one day, Nene. Farewell." With a bow, he turned and walked out of the door, out of the building, and soon, out of the city.
She sipped at her wine slowly and watched the horizon. The sun was setting, and normally she would watch the beauty of the horizon at this time. Now, however, her mind was not on the scene before her. Instead, it traveled down paths she could imagining happening in the future. She knew he was still out there, and more importantly, that he was still plotting to wipe out the entire human race.
"How? How did Largo survive?" she asked herself, barely mouthing the words. But she already had an idea of how that happened too. If she was right, then she was a fool for ever considering the idea that she had killed him last time.
She tried to take some relief in the fact that she and her friends had stopped him this time, but she knew that too, was also foolish. "He will be back. With how he is now, we got off easy." With a sigh, she took another sip.
"But what can we do? We can only stop him for so long... then we will be gone," she added to herself, unable to bring herself to even consider the conclusion. She knew she couldn't stop him now. It would be impossible without wiping out technology. He was now immortal, and as such, time was forever on his side. Knowing her odds, she sipped again and looked out into the horizon, it's beauty lost on her rather hopeless mood. And somewhere over the horizon, she could swear she heard him laughing at her.
The End