Bubble Gum Crisis
An Alternate Story of the Knight Sabers
2034 Year of the Tiger
Neo No Armour Against Fate (Section 3 of 5)
Satisfaction For a Sin (3 of 8)
by Shawn Hagen(1999;2005)

Based on situations and characters created by Suzuki Toshimichi.

March 6th, 08:13

Domino walked into the Dump, passing by the two boomers that stood guard outside of the room. The Dump, or Information Collection and Distribution as it was officially known, was where information from all over the world ended up, for a time.

As Domino entered the room she could see screens about her, the large ones up on the wall, medium sized ones at various points, and the small computer screens the ICD people sat in front of.

The people who worked in the room were among the best intelligence analysts in the world. Information came in from all around the world, flashed across their screens, and they had to pick out what was important. The people in the room worked three days out of every seven, worked four-hour days, and were paid salaries comparable to that of Domino herself. They were of course worth it.

While most of the senior executive had security clearance for the Dump, few ever entered. All the data coming in was confusing, and perhaps a little intimidating. Domino was able to make sense of most of it, thanks to her hardware. Still, there was a certain skill that was required and Domino did not think she had that skill, not like the Analysts.

She might not be good at it, but she could still do it, and there was a certain value in stopping by. Most of the other execs had to wait until the information filtered through to them. By stopping by herself she got a two or three hour jump on some information. It was rather valuable.

She noted that the Mars mission was entering stage two, a week ahead of schedule if she remembered correctly. Four hundred boomers, sent to Mars via an orbital railgun, building a settlement. It was an example of Genom's long term planning. Of course that was nothing compared to the Jupiter Mission, still several weeks from entering the orbit of the huge gas giant.

Domino turned towards another screen, deciding that system exploration, while very interesting, was not something she needed to worry about. She watched for a few more minutes, then turned to leave. She was a little surprised to see Katherine Madigan standing there, looking up at the screens as well.

That was interesting, Domino thought as she walked towards the door. She wondered if Madigan got as much from the constant stream of data as she herself did. Perhaps. The woman was rather interesting. And dangerous.

She left the Dump behind and made her way to the elevators. The Tower was just beginning to get busy with people coming in for the start of another weekday, but Domino avoided the rush and was soon in her office.

There was only one person there that early in the morning, Erika Tomitsu. She was Domino's senior OL. She was twenty-eight years old, with neither the talent nor the inclination to move up the ladder. She was excellent at what she did and was kept busy with the day to day operations of the office. She knew nothing of the shadowy side of Domino's duties, or at least went out of her way to know as little as she could. Many people in Genom were like that.

"Morning Tomitsu-san," Domino called out as she came into the outer office.

"Good morning Odotte-sama," she said, bowing to Domino. "Lin-san is in your office."

"Thank you." Domino smiled at the woman as she went by. She had learned what made her staff happy, how to push their buttons as it were. Erika did not care much for excessive praise, but she appreciated the small touches. Domino gave her those, and assured her ultimate loyalty.

She pushed her door open and walked into her office. Seated on the couch, legs pulled up under her, a laptop in front of her, was Rebecca Lin, one of Domino's newest employees.

"Good morning Miss Lin," Domino said as she walked across the room, taking a seat behind her desk. "You are looking well this morning."

"It's not as if I have much choice," Rebecca said, not looking up from her computer. "This body was designed that way." There was bitterness in her tone.

Domino smiled slightly, knowing that Rebecca would not see her. While Rebecca put on a good act, that was all it was, an act. The young woman, though hiding it well, was happy. It was probably in part to do with getting rid of all the emotional baggage that the real Rebecca Lin had carried around with her. It might also have something to do with the fact that the body she was in, while attractive, was not attractive in a sexual way. Well, at least not to most.

"Well, we all have our crosses to bear. Now, did you review those files as I asked?"

"Yes," she answered petulantly. "I found no traces of illegal intrusion at the times you wanted me to look at. That does not mean anything though. You got those records late, so they could have been cleaned up before hand."

"Nothing at all to lead you to suspect anything?"

"Well, maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Why are you asking me to do this anyway? Genom has people who are better than me, I know that."

"You bring a fresh perspective to the problem Miss Lin. Now, explain that 'Maybe'."

"It looked a little too clean, the records. It looks as if someone did a general clean job, smoothing over everything instead of just their work."

"Interesting."

"It might not mean anything," she said, sounding a little angry.

"My apologies for giving you the idea you are being helpful to me Miss Lin," Domino said.

Rebecca snapped her computer shut. "Is there anything else?"

"Not really."

"I'm going then," she said, getting to her feet.

"One more thing," Domino said.

"What?"

"The new school year starts April 7th. Would you like to be enrolled as a student?"

"Pardon?"

"It would help with your cover."

A number of emotions flashed across Rebecca's face in a few seconds. Domino simply looked on, her face dead-pan.

"I'll think about it," Rebecca said, tuning and walking towards the door. Domino smiled at her back. While she had been fairly certain of her ultimate response, she had wanted to test it. A gentle poke every now and then, just to make sure that the person was behaving as expected was useful. She did not feel bad about doing itshe had been on the receiving end of such pokes herself.

A chance to relive one's childhood, Domino thought. A dream of many, to go back and correct mistakes. She fully expected that Rebecca would see it as such. If it made her happy, it would increase her loyalty, and make her that much more useful to Domino. All part of doing business.

Domino put Rebecca out of her mind and turned her attention to some work she needed to do. Not long afterwards she stepped out into the outer office to say good morning to her staff, share a cup of tea with them, and tell them what she wanted done that day. She pointed out mistakes that had been made, then, to take the sting out of it, pointed out the things well done as well.

That taken care of she returned to her office.

She had split her computer screen into three windows and was working in all of them. Not quite at the same time, but she switched between the three so fast and so often it appeared that way. One was a plan to absorb a new software company into Genom's North American operation. The second was the same logs she had asked Rebecca to look over, as well as some classified parts that the woman was not cleared to see. The third was a report from D.

She brought up another window and looked at more computer logs, comparing the logs from a few days before the incident with the more recent ones. There was too much information to deal with. Just how many people had access to the Genom computer cores? She was assuming that something had been left behind as well. She could well be searching for something that just was not there. There was also the possibility that it had never been there, that she was jumping at shadows. Still, Rebecca had suggested that everything had been cleaned.

This is too unproductive, she thought, closing the two windows. She made a few notes on the software company, then closed that one was well. That left only D's report to deal with.

Turning slightly in her chair she picked up a cup of coffee from her desk top in one hand and a printout in the other.

D had been doing well so far. Currently she was in Houston searching into some leads and tying off a few loose ends from previous Genom operations. It was best to be tidy about things, especially when those things were Genom black ops.

Her handling of the Kosuke situation was exemplary. Domino had come to realise how valuable D was to her. There were few other operatives in Genom as skilled as she was. Part of it was due to the fact she was a boomer but much of it had to do with experience.

She had come to depend on D, both as a skilled operative and as a confidant and perhaps, just perhaps, a friend. A weakness, yet another one, but there was little she could do about it.

D would be back in Tokyo sometime the day after next. Hopefully she would bring with her some useful information that might help Domino reach some conclusions. If not about the computer intrusion, then something else.

She would have to meet with Madigan soon, compare notes, and see if the other woman had come up with any useful leads. At least ones that she would share with Domino. Dealing with Katherine was always a bit of a chore. Both of them did their best to make sure they gave away no more than they were given in return. Less if possible. Still, her continuing association with Katherine Madigan was of value, if only for the fact that it scared the hell out of some of the other execs.

It was a hard little game they played and both played it well and for keeps. Domino's respect for the woman had grown since they had started working together. Eventually they would probably go their separate ways, becoming enemies again. That was just the way it went.

Her NAVI rung, a fast beeping ring that told her it was coming from a number tagged as important. She reached into her jacket pocket, removed the NAVI and flipped it open.

"Moshi moshi, this is Odotte," she said.

"Odotte-san, the Chairman would like to see you," the voice on the other end said to her.

"I'll be right there." Domino cut the connection, folded the NAVI up and returned it to her pocket. She got to her feet, straightened her clothing and walked towards the exit, her pace as quick as she could make it without looking undignified. It would not do to keep Quincy waiting any longer than necessary.

As she exited her office, she wondered just what the Chairman wanted to talk to her about.


"So, all the evidence has been legally obtained?" Tylor asked Nene.

Nene was about to say yes, then paused as she thought about it. "Which evidence?"

"The evidence being used in this case," he clarified.

"Yes, the evidence being used in this case was all obtained legally."

"And what about the evidence not being used?"

"Is there evidence not being used?" Nene asked, sounding perfectly innocent.

"Very good," Tylor said, nodding. "Remember, listen to the questions and be careful about your answers. Don't ever lie, but don't volunteer anything that they don't ask. And even if they ask, wait a moment before answering; it will give our side a chance to raise an objection over the question."

Nene nodded. "Are they likely to ask such questions Yamanaka-san?"

"Hard to say. Illegally obtained evidence can be a problem, but not always. What they might try to do is make it seem like the ADP did not follow proper procedures in the events leading up to the raid. If they did not follow them there, where else might they have not followed them?

"I would not worry about it though, if it is up to me none of you will be there. I'm not going to let them put the ADP on trial."

"I'd rather not have to go to court," Nene said.

"Guilty conscience?"

"Busy schedule."

"I see. Well, write up a statement about your part in the case. I'll need that."

"When do you need it?"

"Two or three days."

"All right."

"Good. Anything you need to know, need help with?"

"No," Nene shook her head.

"Well, then this is all we needed to deal with."

Nene got to her feet. "Domo arigato(thank you)," she said, bowing to the lawyer.

"Don't mention it," he said waving his hand in a negation. "Just don't do anything too illegal."

Nene smiled. "I'll try."


"Nene-san," Kaoru called out as Nene left Tylor's office.

"Kaoru-san, good afternoon."

"Busy?"

"A little."

"Time for lunch?"

"Yes," Nene said, smiling.

"Hot Extraction?"

"Sure."

He looked at his watch. "I've got a few reporters to put off, so, meet you in the lobby at 12:30?"

"I'll be there," Nene said, smiling.

"Good. See you soon," he said, then turned and walked away.

Nene went the opposite way, taking an elevator up to the floor where her new office was. She shared space with Leon and some others, her desk tucked into a corner, covered with her computer.

She sat down behind her desk, made herself comfortable, and then brought her computer out of sleep mode. While the computer cycled through its wake up and security procedures Nene turned to look through the files that had been put on her in pile.

While she did a lot of information retrieval for Leon, there was a certain amount of basic administration work that had to be taken care of. Expenditure reports, requisitions forms, investigation requests, and a lot of other things needed to be looked over, and dealt with. It was all fairly easy though, for the most part she just sent the various reports to whoever needed to see them.

She took care of the daily reports first, scanning them into the computer, cleaning them up, collating them, and then printing them out. She leaned back in her chair while the printer ran, looking over the requisition forms. While most of it was fairly standard, a few new weapons, ammunition, and some armour, there were a few other things. Most of them were items the ADP would never get, HEAP and HESH ammunition, assault rifles, anti-boomer mines and the like.

As Nene understood it Leon and his people kept making the requests as a form of protest over the ADP's weapon situation. The protest was not having much effect. Nene doubted it ever would.

She looked over the requisitions to make sure that they were properly written up, then put them off to the side. She'd drop them off with the quartermaster on her way to the lobby. Thinking of that Nene looked at her watch. A quarter after twelve. Time to go.

She logged off her computer, then put it to sleep. Picking up the requisition files, she stood, then walked from the office.


"Hand me the coupler for the generator," Sylia said.

"Here," Mackie said, handing her the part.

Sylia took it and slid it into the mass of components. Mackie slid small wrench into the space and tightened the locking bolts. "Gently," Sylia said.

Mackie eased off slightly, noting that Sylia nodded. "I think that does it," he said.

"Looks good," Sylia said, moving away from the frame of the motoroid still under construction.

"Have you decided what you are going to call it?"

"Not yet. A storm name of course."

"Are there any left?" Mackie smiled.

"A few," Sylia told him as she picked up a diagnostic computer.

"What about Maelstrom?"

"That's a whirlpool," Sylia told him.

"Really?"

"I'm fairly certain." She plugged the leads from the diagnostic computer into the motoroid. "Start up the generator, let's make sure everything is as it should be."

"Twister?" Mackie suggested as he ran the start up protocols.

"Just another name for a Tornado."

"Blizzard?"

Sylia shook her head. "It does not have the destructive connotations of the other names." Sylia thought about it for a moment. "Well, that is not entirely true. Still, I'm not sure I like the name Blizzard."

"Maybe you'll just have to call it the Hurricane 2?" Mackie started the generator up.

"Perhaps." Sylia looked down at the readouts. "This looks good."

Mackie nodded. "What next?"

"We'll start putting the armour on tomorrow."

"You don't want to do it now?"

Sylia shook her head. "Not yet. No need to rush it, and we both have other work to do."

Mackie looked at his watch. "I think I'm going to be late."

"I'm sure Raven-hakase will understand."

"What are you going to be doing?" Mackie asked, curious as always.

"See if any new information has come in, and a few other things. Nothing new."

"Well, I'll see you later then," Mackie said, walking towards the elevator.

Sylia watched him go, then turned back to the still incomplete motoroid. She grabbed a tarp and pulled it over the frame, covering the new machine. Hopefully she would have it complete in a few days.

She left the repair bay behind, going to the small office she maintained in the basement. Taking a seat behind the desk she picked some sheets from her desktop.

Ever since Bestar-san had spoken to her she had been considering what he wanted, and the articles she had read in the journal. She looked down at the pages in her hand. She was still not finished with it, but she was certain that the ideas she was putting down on paper would be considered somewhat radical by some.

Assuming, of course, anyone read it.


Linna was cleaning her apartmentcleanliness had suffered due to her busy schedulewhen she heard her doorbell chime. She left the damp cloth on the kotatsu top as she got up from her knees. She moved towards the door, calling out, "Hai, hai."

She looked out the peephole, seeing a woman standing out there. She was wearing a three-piece suit, pants, not skirt, and was carrying a briefcase. Linna opened the door.

"Yamazaki-san?" the woman asked.

"Hai," Linna said.

"I'm Noda Manami, pleased to meet you," she said, at the same time producing a business card, which she held out to Linna.

"Yamazaki Linna," Linna said, taking the card. It had the woman's name on it, the fact she was a junior partner of a law firm, and several phone numbers and e-mail addresses as well.

"Yamazaki-san, I'm here on behalf of Chang Reika-san. My firm handles some of Kyuusei Industries' business in Nihon."

"Reika-san? Why would she send you?" Then Linna realised that the woman was just standing in her hallway. "I'm sorry, please, come in."

Manami smiled and stepped into the apartment, removed her shoes in the genkan, then stepped up into the apartment. "Thank you."

"Please." Linna said, stepping aside for her. Linna showed her to the living room and then went to make some tea. It was the absolute worst time for her to be entertaining visitors. The apartment was a mess.

She put green tea leaves into a strainer, the strainer into a teapot, then pumped hot water from the thermos over the leaves. She grabbed two cups, placed them on a tray with the teapot, then hurried back to the living room.

She poured Manami her tea first, then filled her own glass. "How can I help you?" Linna asked as she put the small tea pot aside.

"Well, as I understand it, you may be entering into Chang-san's employ soon."

"I'm still thinking about it," Linna said.

"Well, I'm probably here to help you make that decision," Manami said, smiling. She reached down and opened her briefcase.

"Oh?"

"I was asked to outline the benefits you could expect if you enter into Chang-san's employ."

"What kind of benefits?" Linna asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, the salary you can expect is rather generous," Manami told her, not bothering to mention any numbers. "There is also a health plan, pension plan and various insurance plans included. You will get a percentage of ticket sales, once your choreography has been worked into the show, and a performance fee, if you choose to perform." As she spoke she brought out several sheets of paper and laid them on the table. "These explain everything," she indicated the paper, "and should answer all your questions. If you have any questions about any of this, I can stay and explain it to you, or you can call me at a later date."

Linna nodded. "Thank you," she said. "I'd like to take some time to look over all of this and give it some thought."

"Of course," she said, closing her briefcase at the same time.

"Thank you very much for coming to see me."

"Don't mention it," Manami said as she got to her feet.

Linna got to her feet as well and walked Manami to the door.

"Please feel free to call me at any time," Manami said, stepping down into her shoes.

"Thank you."

Manami opened the door, stepped out into the hall, then turned. "Good night," she said, bowing to Linna.

Linna returned the bow, then watched as the woman walked away. She waited a moment, then closed and locked her door.

Returning to the kotatsu, she looked down on the papers placed there. She knelt down, shuffled them together, then placed them off to the side. Plenty of time for that later, right now she had a lot of cleaning to take care of. She gathered up the tea things, placed them on the tray, then got to her feet.


The music was loud, the lights were down, and there was a press of bodies around her, moving in time to the music. The air was hot, and thick with the scent of bodies and sweat.

Domino let herself become lost in the sensations, letting them wrap around her and through her and drag her into the mix, becoming one with it, for a time. She was not an executive, not some innocent girl, not any of the roles she had taken on since her awakening. She was pure tempter that night. Her pheromones subtle as a gentle breeze, yet hitting hard as a truck, were flowing around her, creating a volatile mix. Anything might happen.

She hardly cared.

She wore a short, black, velvet cocktail dress. Over it was a long, leather coat, also black. The coat went down past her ankles and would have been dragging on the floor if not for the spiked heels she wore. They gave her that extra height she needed. Her hair hung loose, lashing about her like thin whips, splashing her scent across people's faces at times.

With all the black and the pale skin she might have been considered Goth, but lacked the make up that often went with that old style.

The Tokyo Hard Rock Café was packed, packed beyond legal capacity in all likelihood. It was on the account of a band, a new one for many. There was an electricity in the club, something that brought people there to listen.

Domino knew a little of Priss and the Replicants. The lead singer had been known for an anti-Genom stance, but that had softened a little over the years. Domino thought that Mason might have had a few dealings with someone related to her, in the past. Hard to be sure. There were so many faces.

It did not concern her, however. What did was that the music was loud, easy to dance to, and it brought people into the club in great numbers. It had been exactly what she had been looking for.

The music came to a thunderous end, the lead singer, Priss, called out to the crowd, telling them that they were going to take a break, but they would be back. A moment later the club's piped music came on. A calmer tone to relax everyone.

Domino found herself pressed against a tall man with a hard body. She splayed her fingers on his chest and slid her hand up it, along his neck, feeling the stubble there, then up his chin, placing her fingers against his lips. She looked up into his eyes, as he was looking down into hers. "Want to go some place?" she asked.

He looked a little surprised at that, that she had made the first move. "Sure," he said.

Domino turned her back on him, but reached out to grab his hand, just to make sure that he would not get lost on her, then dragged him towards the back exit.

Once outside they found a deserted alley. They did not talk. They did not need to. He pulled his jacket off and dropped it to the ground, leaving him only in a tight, white, sweat stained T-shirt and his jeans. Domino leaned up against the dirty wall, just looking at him. He had a build that a C-class might envy. Sandy brown hair, blue eyes, he might have some Japanese blood in him, but it was hard to tell. Domino really did not care.

He fumbled with his belt, then undid the button fly of his jeans. That was all the preparation he needed. From a pants pocket he produced a condom. Domino was not really concerned about itshe was protected against almost any of the STDs that one might expect to encounter, but she did not stop him from putting it on. She realised that she wanted the thin, latex barrier between them.

He moved up close to Domino, his need obvious. Grasping the hem of her dress, he pulled it up about her waist, then yanked her panties down to her knees. With no ceremony he lifted her up, then slid into her, grunting softly.

It was fast, and rough. His movements had her head banging up against the wall. If she was not made of such stern stuff she might have expected bruises there, as well as on her back. He began kissing her, chewing gently on her lips as he thrust so hard. The dichotomy of the two sensations endeared him to her in some strange way. She began kissing him back, even as she let him use her as vessel for his lust.

It was over soon enough; he tossed the used condom down the alley, did up his pants, then picked up his jacket and left. Domino still leaned against the wall, her dress still bunched up around her hips. She was not really breathing all that hard, nor did she feel any sense of satisfaction.

Not much of a first time, she thought as she reached down to pull her panties back up. That was the point though. Weaknesses were dangerous. They could put her in dangerous positions. No more thinking of love or sex as something special. She had just seen all there was to it for her. Two people, in a dirty alley, fucking.

After straightening out her clothes Domino started back towards the club. The night was far from over.


Holding her chin up, Priss let the cool wind blow across her face, cooling her off after the wild performance. She stood up on tiptoe so she could look out the high window and catch the breeze. There was not much of a view, just the crowded parking lot of the club. Most of the cars looked expensive. Priss wondered just when her class of audience had changed?

After a moment she realised that they had not changed. The same bikers, troublemakers, and ne'er-do-wells filled up Hot Legs every time she played, as well as a higher class of slummer she was seeing more and more of. It was only when she came to a place like the Hard Rock Cafe that she ran into a totally different audience. She was the one who was changing.

She dropped down to the flat of her feet then knelt to grab the tumbler of vodka and orange juice. Straightening she went back onto her toes to look out the window. She took a sip of her drink then placed it on the windowsill.

It had been a crazy night. Someone had mentioned something about a full moon because of all the craziness. Priss liked to think it had something to do with her music, maybe it did, but there had had been something else there, she was almost certain of it.

Outside she watched a group of young men and women, in dishevelled clothing, walking towards a limousine. Two of the men stopped and began kissing each other. Priss turned away and took a drink of her vodka. She was not a voyeur. When she looked out again the young men were running to catch up with their companions. A moment later they were all in their car and heading off to wherever.

Neither Nene nor Linna had been able to make it that night, which Priss had been a little disappointed about at first. After watching a bloody fight from the stage, and seeing people basically having sex while they danced, she was glad they had not made it. Every rocker needed a night like that, she thought, but she hoped it would not become a common occurrence.

"Hey Priss, Leon and me are going to hit the Ginza and see how much money we can waste. Wanna come?" Yuuko asked as she rushed into the room, grabbing her bass case.

"No. Thanks for the offer though." Priss looked over her shoulder.

"Okay, maybe next time then." Yuuko turned and was gone.

She closed the window, and then took her drink from the sill, finished it and dropped the empty glass onto one of the chairs.

Reaching behind her she slid her thumbs under the band of her skirt and twisted the clasp then pulled the zipper down. The skirt slid down around her bare feet, a puddle of red silk. She was feeling what her audience had felt; she was sure of it, and wanted to calm down a little before she started dealing with people. Picking up one of the towels from a pile by the door she headed towards the shower. Some cold water might do her some good.


Priss had a towel wrapped around her hair as she walked out into the club. She saw Kano sitting at a table, a bottle of gin in front of him. The cleaning staff was out in force, and the wait staff as well as the bouncers had been co-opted to help with the clean up effort.

She walked over to the table and sat down across from Kano. "Harsh night?"

He laughed softly, then took a drink of his gin. "You could say that."

"What's the damage like?"

"Nothing to major, though the club's reputation might take a hit."

"Doubt it." Priss reached across the table and grabbed the bottle of gin. Kano slid a glass and a bottle of tonic towards her. "People might say this was all terrible, but they will keep coming back, hoping that it will be repeated," she told him as she prepared her drink.

"It was all very weird."

"It was that."

"Rest of the band left?"

"Yeah. Parties and such," she told him.

"Why not you?"

"Don't feel like it tonight."

"Are you getting old Priss-san?"

"No, just smart. I'm feeling a bit too jumped up. If I go out tonight I'm probably going to get into a fight or something."

"I know the feeling."

Priss looked at Kano for a moment, then reached across the table, and grasped his hand. "How much do you know that feeling?"

Kano smiled. "Probably as much as you do, but you don't do anything for me."

Priss released his hand and leaned back in her chair. "Figures."

"What is it with you straight girls, always trying to bring us around? Tell me, is it some sort of secret conspiracy? Every time you sleep with a swish you get a mark on your bedpost?"

"Ingenious. How did you ever guess," Priss said sarcastically.

"Clean living. So, how's the living arrangements going?"

"It's all still in the lawyer stage. In a day, maybe two, it will be mine."

"Then what?"

"Clean the place out, get a carpenter in to take a look at things, figure out what I need to make the place livable."

"Expensive?"

"Probably. I'll figure it out."

"Got the loan yet?" he asked.

"It is arranged."

"What's the interest like?"

"2.4 percent."

"You're kidding?"

"No," Priss smiled slightly.

"How did you manage that?"

"Friends in powerful places."

"Drug dealers?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Priss asked as she picked up her gin and tonic.

"That is why I asked."


March 7th, 09:37

Domino was not showing any signs of the previous night's debaucheries. She did not really need much sleep, and her body dealt with alcohol almost as fast as she drank it. That was not to say that she was acting in a pleasant manner.

She was curt with her staff, polite yet distant. Her staff noticed.

Haruko knocked on Domino's door, then opened it. "Excuse me," she said.

Domino looked up from her work. "Yes?" she asked.
"Odotte-sama..." Haruko said, then trailed off. She closed the door behind her.

"What is it Tetsu-san?"

"Have we, the staff, done anything wrong. Is our performance not at the required levels?"

"What are you talking about?" Domino asked her.

"You seem to be angry at us."

Domino sighed. "Your performance is fine, I have no complaints. You may let your colleagues know that they need not be concerned. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I do not want anything to cause a decrease in this office's productivity."

Haruko nodded, but did not say anything for a moment. "Are you all right?" she finally asked.

"Pardon?"

"I know it is not my place, but..." she paused again. "I sometimes worry about you."

"You do not have to," Domino said, making her tone sharp enough to make the point, yet not so sharp as to hurt.

"Yes Odotte-sama."

"Thank you for your concern, however. Have you finished up that report on the acquisition of Clarkson Shipping?"

"Yes Odotte-sama. I'm just checking everything over. It should be ready for you in an hour."

"Good work."

"Thank you Odotte-sama," Haruko said, bowing before leaving.

Domino watched her go then sighed. It was hard not to like Haruko and her colleagues, they were all very good workers, and very loyal. It would not do her any good to alienate her staff, even though she did not want to be too friendly with them. She did not want any friends at all.


"Wow, this is just a big empty," Miako said, looking around the factory floor.

"I like space," Priss told her, closing the door behind them.

"Going to race bikes in here or something?"

"Something like that," Priss told her. "Here, I want you to see this." Priss set off across the floor towards the tarp covered car she had noted earlier.

"What, junk?" Miako kicked a piece of rusting metal across the floor.

"Maybe," Priss told her. "You might know better."

"You've got me intrigued." Miako followed after Priss.

Priss stopped by the car, reaching out to grasp the tarp. She waited until Miako was close, then she flipped it up, pulling it up to reveal the car. "What do you think?"

Miako had stopped and was looking at the car Priss had revealed. "Oh my," she said.

"I take it that that is good?"

"Well, it all depends on whether this is an original or just a kit."

"So what is it, or what might it be?"

"You don't know?"

"I just know it looks like something fast and powerful."

"Well, you got both right. It is," Miako walked up to the car and pulled the tarp back some more, "maybe, a Shelby Cobra, 427. Why is there a cat in the front seat?"

"It lives there," Priss told her. "So, this is a good car?"

"Well, it depends on how you define good. It is a rare car, they only made something like three hundred. It's also an old car, about sixty years old."

"If it is real."

"True enough." Miako reached into the car. The cat growled at her, crouching down, the hair on its back raising. "Shut up!" Miako snapped at it. The cat actually looked shocked that it had been yelled at. She ran her hands over the dash, then gave the steering wheel a try. "Let's look under the hood."

Priss shrugged her shoulders and let Miako do as she wished. "Not a lot of rust," Miako noted as she reached for the hood release. "Body looks to be in good condition. Someone took care of it." She lifted the hood up, but instead of looking at the engine she looked at the underside of the hood. "Take a look at this."

"What?"

"It's been repainted at least once." She indicated the bands of different coloured paint. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the dirt and the grease away. "This white was probably the original colour, then it got painted blue, and then repainted a darker blue. It's been worked on. That will lower the potential value."

"Assuming it is not a kit car."

"I'm beginning to think that might not be the case." She looked down at the engine. "V-8, that's a good sign. 450 horsepower engine, if it is original. That will be eye popping. Thing's in a bit of a mess, but could be worse, I guess."

Priss nodded. "Want it?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm not much into cars. I was just curious."

"You can't give this away, or even sell it. You have to keep it."

"Why?"

"Because car otaku dream of things like this. You'd be insulting them by just giving it away. Plus, I couldn't afford to pay you a fair price."

"How much would it cost to repair it?"

"Hard to say, but I would think that it would not be too much. It looks to be in good shape. Get the right mechanic and you could probably get it in on the road easily enough. I think Raven-san could do it for you. My Miata just flies. I still can't believe anyone put a V-8 into one of those things." She shook her head.

Priss thought about it for a moment. It was not like that money from her work as a Knight Saber was doing all that much. And she could pay Raven under the table so no one would notice it. She looked at the car, suddenly feeling intrigued. "I'll think about it."

"You'll never regret it." Miako closed the hood. "Evict the cat though," she said as she grasped the tarp and pulled it clear.

"I'll have to find it a good home."

"Speaking of homes." Miako tossed the tarp aside. "You really going to live here?"

"Yes. The upper office areas will convert into living space easily enough."

"What are you going to do with all this room down here?" Miako turned about, indicating the large floor space with the gesture.

"A studio and parking."

"Expensive I bet."

"There are tax write-offs that will help."

"Tax write-offs? Priss-san, you sound positively corporate. You didn't sell out on us did you?"

"That's strange coming from the woman who wears suits and displays her work in big galleries."

"Point taken. Well, what now?"

"I've got to arrange for this place to be cleaned up, I think I can get a salvage company to pay to cart all this junk off. I also have a practice session this afternoon."

"Still playing at the Hard Rock?" She took a pack of cigarettes from her overcoat.

"Until the eighth."

"I think I'll come by tonight." She put the cigarette into her mouth.

"I'll have a ticket and back stage pass waiting for you if you want."

"Thanks," Miako said around the cigarette. She removed a small vial from her other pocket and unscrewed the cap.

Priss watched as Miako removed a small brush from the vial and began to brush it along the cigarette.

"What's that?" Priss asked.
"Hashish oil," she mumbled, then put the brush back into the vial. She started screwing the cap back on, then stopped. "Want some? It's good stuff."

"No," Priss told her.

"Cool." She finished screwing the cap back on, returned the vial to her pocket, and then removed a lighter.

"Let's go," Priss said, starting towards the exit.

"Sure," Miako said as she lit up the cigarette.


Sylia sat behind a desk of scarred oak in a room not to her liking. She often thought it strange she had gone to such lengths to get that room looking exactly as it did.

Most of the furniture had been salvaged from the old house after the quake, what had been destroyed she had eventually replaced. For the most part the office was exactly as her father had left it, except for the curtain she had placed over the oil painting. She had drawn the velvet curtain back that day. She sat in the chair, behind the desk and looked at the painting.

Her mother sitting in a chair, Mackie on her lap, herself at eight at her mother's left, her father standing almost directly behind the chair but a little to the right.

She remembered posing for the picture. She had wanted to go out and play, to get out of the house. It had been a beautiful August day, the middle of o-bon. Tokyo had been almost empty, or as empty as it could get even during o-bon. It was one of the few times during the year Mount Fuji could been seen from the city.

Instead she had been in the house, wearing an uncomfortable white dress with too much frill for her tastes, and having to listen to Mackie cry. She had been more than a little of a pest that day to get back at her parents. Looking back at it always gave her an odd sense of nostalgia, regret, and happiness mixed together.

It was one of the best times to remember her father, before his boomer work had consumed him, before her mother's death.

She reached across the desk and picked up the old cordless phone. She tapped in the number and waited, hoping, almost, that it would not be answered.

"Hello, Justin Bestar, this better be good," the person on the other end said.

"Bestar-san, this is Stingray Sylia."

"Sylia? Well it's good to hear from you."

"If you still want my help I'd be interested in being of assistance."

"Of course I still want your help, thank you."

"There are some conditions."

"Conditions?"

"I want to see the guest list, and I want to be able to make changes."

"Sylia, there are certain people who really have to come no matter what your personal feelings may be."

"I doubt that I will take anyone off the list Bestar-san, but I may wish to add a few names."

"Oh. Well that's fine. You can invite as many people as you want, within reason of course."

"No prepared speeches either."

"Of course, though I would like to know what you are going to say, in advance."

"No."

"Pardon?" He sounded as if he was not sure he had heard right.

"No."

"Oh come on Sylia, as the organiser I have to know what you will be saying."

"I'm not particularly interested in helping you arrange damage control in case I upset some people. Anyway, even if I gave you a speech, you have no guarantee that would be the one I would read."

Justin was quiet for a moment then began to laugh. "You remind me of your father sometimes," he told her. "He could be stubborn over certain things as well."

"Do we have an agreement then?"

"Of course, I do need you after all. I'll fax you all the information right away."

"I'll be waiting. Good bye." Sylia cut the connection.

She looked up at the picture on the wall. She had something in common with Justin at that moment. She was also wondering what she was going to say about her father, and his work, come the banquet.


"Okay Ladies, this was the last rehearsal before things happen for real. I hope you appreciate that," Andrea called out to her dancers. "You've worked hard, and, as long as you keep your wits about you, you will have no reason to worry. So, get some rest tonight, and tomorrow will be a pretty relaxed day, right up until show time. Any questions?"

None of the dancers had any.

"Good," Andrea said. "Go."

The group of dancers gathered on the stage broke up, most making their way back towards the dressing and shower rooms, a few staying.

Linna remained where she was for a time, just staring out over the seats, picturing them full of people. It was exciting, and a little scary.

"You're going to be fine," Mako said to her.

"What?" Linna turned to face the other dancer.

"You looked nervous."

"Perhaps a little, but I've danced in front of people before. This will be easy compared to the audition I had to perform to become part of this troupe."

"There is that."

"I'm really looking forward to this. I've worked so hard. Well, we've all worked so hard."

"And all for four nights, and a matinee."

"It is a very brief run."

"That's just Kikuchi-sensei's way. She's never liked long runs of anything as I understand it. Claims that such runs are for the creatively bankrupt."

Linna laughed. "That sounds like something she would say."

"I think she is constantly pushing for perfection. She'll never find it if she keeps doing the same thing over and over."

"And she pulls us along with her."

"That's a good way to put it."

Linna nodded.

"What are you going to do tonight?"

"Well, a friend of mine is playing a show at a club. I really should try to make it. This will be my last chance for a while."

"What kind of show?"

"She's a singer, her and her band are playing at the Tokyo Hard Rock Café."

"I think I heard about that. A really good show they say."

"That sounds about right. Want to come?"

"Well, a few of us were thinking food and drinks, but this sounds good. Can you get us in though?"

"Depends on how many. I'll call my friend and see what she can do."

"Okay, I'll ask around and see if anyone wants to go."

"Sounds like the start of something. I'll go make the call and then meet you in the dressing room."

"Right."


"Where's Leon-san?" Nene asked as she walked into the office area.

"Captain McNichol is with Lieutenant Roberson," one of Leon's section commanders told her.

"Thanks," Nene said, then she turned and walked from the office. She had been putting off certain things and it was time that she dealt with them. The letter that had arrived at her home the previous night just confirmed that.

Shiroko Roberson was the ADP's weapon Boss. She was ultimately responsible for all the weapons in the ADP's armoury. She was also a little spooky.

The elevators down to the subbasement were secure, requiring Nene to swipe her card key through the reader and enter her security code. As the subbasements held most of the ADP's heavy weapons, the extra security was to be expected.

She stepped out of the elevator and was confronted by two members of the ADP Tac squads, fully armoured, holding their weapons at port. Nene showed them her ID, and they cleared her to pass through the security doors.

She was in a very large room, a number of the K-11s and K-12s were in the area, some moving about, and some being repaired. Nene was edging around one of the K-12s when it suddenly turned, forcing Nene to duck or be hit by the thing.

"Hey, watch it!" Nene snapped.

"Just testing," the pilot said from the cockpit.

"Testing what!"

"Your reflexes."

"Don't do me any favours," Nene told him, then continued on. "Baka(idiot)," Nene said softly. "And people say I'm immature."

Shiroko's office was near the back of the room. She had a large, glass wall that allowed her to look out at the work bay. The blinds had been drawn over that window.

She walked up to the office door and was about to knock, then stopped. If Leon was in an important meeting she really should not disturb him with what was not a terribly urgent matter. Then again, it was likely that all Leon and Shiroko were doing were talking guns.

Well, it probably wouldn't hurt find out how much longer Leon was going to be, she told herself as she knocked on the door.

"Come in," she heard a muffled voice call.

Nene took a deep breath, then pushed the door open. Leon and Shiroko were there, gathered around her desk which was covered in various things, including Leon's Earth Shaker.

"Nene-chan, what is it?" Leon asked.

"I need to talk to you," Nene told him.

"Later,' Leon said. "Unless it is an emergency."

"It is not an emergency."

"Good, shut the door and come here," Shiroko said.

Shiroko would have been a striking woman no matter where she was. In Japan she stood out a little more. She was an albino; her skin the colour of paper, as was her hair, and her eyes were red. She was also tall, taller than Leon by a centimetre or two, as well as being willowy thin. She had shaved the hair from the left side of her head, sort of a half mohawk.

She smiled at Nene, a friendly smile that did not look friendly, to Nene. She closed the door and walked over to the desk.

"So Romanova-san, I don't see you down here to often."

"I don't have much reason to come," Nene said, trying to be polite.

"Boo," Shiroko said.

"What?" Nene asked.

"Just messing with you."

"Leave Nene-chan alone," Leon told her. "She's delicate."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nene asked Leon.

"I'm just trying to help."

Shiroko laughed. "Here Romanova-san, wipe these off," she said, handing Nene a soft cloth and several large rounds.

Nene took the items. "What are you doing?"

"Well, the rounds I use in my Earth Shaker are already hot loads, but Shiroko-san thinks we can make them hotter."

"Not to mention more effective."

"Hot loads?" Nene asked as she began to wipe the rounds off.

"More explosive force than you would expect," Shiroko explained. "Of course, with a fifty calibre pistol round, saying it is a hot load might be redundant."

"Nene looked down at the cartridge she was wiping off. "Is this going to blow up in my hands?"

"Very unlikely," Shiroko told her coldly. "My work is no where near that poor."

"Sorry."

"Apology accepted. Anyhow, since Leon now has two Earth Shakers and his mysterious source has given us detailed specs on the weapon, I thought we could experiment." Shiroko looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know Leon-san, you still have not told me just who your source is."

"Imagine that."

"Hardly fair."

"That's life."

"I don't know why I am helping you."

"Because you desperately want to fire a few rounds through this thing and this is the only way you'll get a chance," Leon said.

"Not to mention I want to try out my home cooked HEAP rounds."

"Not to mention."

"High explosive, armour piercing?" Nene asked. She had learned a little about weapons and ammunition during her time in the ADP.

"Gold star for you," Shiroko told her. "Genom, and others, have had these things in personal arm size for years, but they won't let us have them. I've been experimenting for a couple of years on my own design."

"Is this legal?"

"No," Leon told her, "but it's not the first time, ne?" He smiled at Nene.

"There is that," Nene admitted.

Leon and Shiroko made the rounds, loading them with powder then crimping the casings around her HEAP projectiles. Nene wiped the rounds clean, which she was fairly certain was not a necessary job, but it kept her busy.

Some time later they had sixty of the rounds ready and packed into two boxes. "To the range," Shiroko said.

"I'll go up an wait in the office," Nene told Leon.

"I don't think so," Shiroko said.

"Pardon?" Nene asked.

"You helped to make these," she held up one of the boxes. "You should at least get a chance to send one or two of them down range."

"But I don't want to."

"Nonsense," Shiroko told her. "Now come along."

"I'd do what she says," Leon advised her.

"Romanova-san, bring those two briefcases behind my desk, will you?"

Nene grabbed the briefcases and then followed after Shiroko and Leon to the firing range.


"How are your wrists?" Leon asked as he handed her an ice pack.

"They still hurt," Nene told him. "But that is fading." She put the ice pack around her wrist.

"Good. So," Leon took a seat across from her, "what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well, I wanted to tell you..." Nene trailed off. "I wanted to..." Nene reached inside her uniform jacket and handed Leon a piece of paper, folded into a rectangle, the ends folded in. On it was written, 'resignation'.

Leon took it, staring at it for a moment. He seemed to fall in on himself slightly as he began to fold back to edges. Nene reached out and stopped him, putting her hand over his. "That is just official, I want to tell you."

Leon looked at her. "Okay."

Nene took a deep breath. "I should have told you sooner I guess, especially after you gave me the promotion, but I guess I was not sure, or I just did not want to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"I'm going back to school, well, not back, but on to university."

"You're going to University?'

"Yes."

"So you are leaving the ADP to go to university?"

"Yes."

Leon suddenly smiled and sat up straight. "Good."

"What?"

"Not that you are leaving Nene-chan, but the reason you are leaving."

"Pardon?"

"I've seen a lot of these over my time in the ADP," Leon said, waving Nene's resignation letter in his hand. "Usually I hear how they have seen one too many colleague die, or that their wife or husband was having a nervous breakdown out of fear, or that they themselves are the ones near breakdown." Leon shook his head. "I always feel like they are running away from, something, that the ADP has become something which breaks people. It's good to hear about someone who is leaving because they can go onto something better."

"I never thought about it that way."

"So, when do you plan to leave?"

"Classes at Gendai..."

"Genom Daigaku?"

"Yes," Nene said, trying not to sound hesitant, and failing.

Leon laughed softly. "You don't do things small do you? Why Gendai?"

"They offer a lot."

"If you say so. So, when are you leaving?"

"Classes start April 10th, though there are various orientation days that start on the 7th, and an entrance ceremony on the 6th. So, I guess on the 5th?"

"We'll have to get a lot done before then, and not just planning your farewell party." Leon smiled.

"This is going to be painful," Nene said.

"You bet. Still going to be able to come down here and give me a hand with information acquisition?"

"You'll treat me to lunch, or dinner, or whatever?"

"If that is what it takes."

"You'll see me around here then."

"Good." Leon got to his feet. "Come on. Let's go find Daily, and then we'll go out and have a few drinks."

"Can I invite Wada-san?"

Leon did not say anything for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, if you want."


Cultural Notes:
O-bon, the festival of the Dead, takes place during three days in August on the 14 to 16th (though it also may be celebrated in July). During this time the dead are said to return to their graves so family members gather together to clean the grave sights and make various offerings to their ancestors. It is during this time that lanterns are lit and placed on rivers as part of the offerings, in case you were curious.

Because many people's ancestors are interred in small, family grave sights out in the country, during this time trains and such will be packed. Large cities, such at Tokyo, will see a notable decrease in their population during this time.

"Singlemindedness is all-powerful"
-Yamamoto Jin'emon