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 (8 of 8)
by Shawn Hagen(1999;2005)

Based on situations and characters created by Suzuki Toshimichi.

Domino looked over the reports that had recently come in. Terrence's employers had been clever, scrambling all the people they had working for them at once. It made things a little more difficult. There was the possibility that the entire thing was a false lead. Perhaps they had not found Andrews yet, but wanted Genom to think they had. Or perhaps they had, but none of the groups currently being watched had him.

She doubted both possibilities though. She had made sure to deny them as many resources as possible in Japan. It would be several days, at least, before they could acquire or send in more resources.

It was very likely that one of the groups had Andrews. Now she had to choose which one. While Genom had the resources to easily deal with all the groups, Domino wanted Andrews handled in a special way, and she only had one operative she would trust to do it.

"Akiko-san," Domino said, looking up from the reports.

"Hai," she said.

"Do you have an opinion on this?"

"I find the Knight Sabers' presence in District 24 to be odd."

Domino nodded. "It is a good place to hide, but I'm not sure Andrews-hakase has the courage to face the dangers there. Still, he has occasionally, when threatened, shown courage." Domino paused and looked at the reports again. "I want you to take a team and go after the Knight Sabers. You may handle this as you choose as long as the final results are what I want."

Akiko nodded. "It will be done as you requested." Akiko stood and bowed to Domino and then turned and walked from the room.

Domino watched her go, then reached for her phone. She'd have to scramble teams to deal with the other groups, but she was certain that the Knight Sabers were the ones who had Andrews. They had shown a great facility in finding things out, and Domino-through Masondid have a great respect for Sylia.


The Knight Sabers were somewhat strung out, though that was as Sylia had wanted it. Bunched together it would be too easy to take them all out at once. Of course they would not be able to come to each other's aid as quickly, but it was a trade off Sylia was willing to accept.

Priss was on point, picking the route out of District 24, and ready to deal with any problems that might get in their way. Sylia was a hundred meters behind her, Nene close to her. About fifty meters further back Mackie rode, with Andrews-hakase. And then, further back still, Linna was rear guard.

Priss leaned hard to the right, cutting into an alley, avoiding a large group of people on the road ahead. The rear tire slid on trash and other loose debris, but Priss turned the front wheel and down shifted for a little more power, pulling the bike back up. "All stations, watch that turn," Priss transmitted as she shifted up, speeding down the alley.

A few seconds later the bike jumped from the end of the alley, dropping down onto a lower road-it had settled in the years since the quake. She hit the rear brake hard, bringing the bike around, ninety degrees to her original course. "All stations, watch the end of the alley. It is a bit tricky."

The road she was on ran straight out of the district. It was usually deserted, probably because it tended to flood.

"That was a bit tricky?" Priss heard Nene's voice. "I almost hit the far wall!"

"I guess I meant a bit tricky for anyone with skill." Priss smiled slightly.

They continued the run along the roadway. As Priss had expected it was flooded in places, sometimes deep enough that the bike was almost immersed up to the top of its wheels. The water presented little trouble for the motoslaves, other than slowing them down a little.

They were nearing the end of the road, the last leg of it climbed out of the 'Big Fault' when Nene transmitted, "Two, this is four, I've got four objects moving in on you. Likely C-Class boomers."

"Got ya. One, should I take them out?"

"Do so," Sylia sent.

"Okay, let's do this," Priss told the Typhoon II.

As they approached the end of the road Priss leapt from the bike, letting it reconfigure so it could provide support.

She landed, sliding to a stop, the Typhoon II standing just behind her.

"Targets approaching," the Typhoon II said.

"You know what to do."

When the first boomer appeared it was blown in half by a short burst from the Typhoon II's hand cannon. The second one had two surgically precise needles rip through its armour and destroy both its primary and secondary processor. The next two managed to get close, opening up with their mouth cannons.

Priss and her motoslave spun about, dodging the incoming blasts. The Typhoon II moved forward, grasping the leg of one of the boomers as it tried to leap over the motoslave. With a good grip on the boomer, the Typhoon II swung it about, slamming it hard into the ground. It then lifted its foot up and then slammed it down against the boomer's chest, crushing it.

Priss fell back in the face of the boomer's attack, waiting for an opening to come. When it did she stepped forward, the knuckle guard swung forward over her left hand, and slammed the guard up, under the boomers right arm. The boomer's arm was ripped right off, sent spinning down into the Big Fault. Priss followed up with a roundhouse kick, the jets in the leg boosting the speed up to lethal levels.

Its left arm and side crushed in, the boomer went over the edge, following after its right arm.

"One, this is two, targets dealt with."

"So I see,' Sylia said, coming to a stop near Priss. "It looks as if they are on to us."

"What do you want to do about it?" Priss asked her.

"Do you know a quiet way to the target area?"

"It won't be an easy ride."

"I'm sure the motoslaves will be able to handle it."

"Okay, let's go." She looked over at the Typhoon II. "I need a ride, snap to it."

The motoslave obediently began to shift to its motorcycle form.


Akiko smiled slightly as the Knight Sabers went underground. It was a clever move and it made tracking them very difficult. Fortunately Genom had up to date maps of the underground. She called up those maps and looked through them. Considering that the Knight Sabers, if they did not want to get rid of their support mecha, or even their armour, were limited to only certain tunnels, it was not impossible to find the places where they might come out.

If they did abandon their armour and the support mecha it increased the possible places they might come out. While it was a dangerous assumption, she would assume that they would keep their armour. She put watchers on all the exits they could use. Now she would have to wait.

Akiko turned her attention to another monitor where the feed from the four boomers she had sent in was playing. She had heard of the Knight Sabers before, but had never seen them in action. Having seen them she had to admit she was impressed. Of course they had only faced four of the C-Class, and the boomers had used a very obvious attack plan. Against a tougher class of boomer, one that might make use of more advanced tactics, the Knight Sabers might be presented with a more difficult challenge.

While her mission did not involve the destruction of the Knight Sabers she was considering the future.

Akiko leaned forward and tapped in an inquiry, finding out where her teams on the ground were. She then looked back to the map of the tunnels. She was going to make an educated guess as to where the Knight Sabers would come out. It was a risk, but a calculated one.

"Take us to area A9 and hold position there. Relay that to all other aircraft."

"Roger," the helicopter pilot said.

Akiko felt the aircraft bank sharply as it flew off towards area A9. She listened as the pilot relayed her orders to the other pilots. If she were right she would save herself a few minutes, which might give her the time to set things up exactly as she wanted. If she was wrong it would make things more difficult, but hardly impossible.


The old subway tunnel was partially collapsed in some places making passage difficult. Priss led the way, finding the best way through the maze of tunnels. While it had been some time since she had last ridden them, she had kept up to date on their condition.

The vision enhancements in the hardsuit made it easy to avoid the gaps and up thrusts in the tunnel floor, as well as to duck under low crossbeams. Like most of the tunnels, subway or otherwise, in MegaTokyo, they had been shored up by city engineers in order to stabilise the city's underpinnings. Priss was not too worried about anything collapsing on her.

They had been underground for almost an hourit was just too hard to travel at any decent speed in the tunnelsand were closing on the exit point Priss had chosen.

She pulled her bike to a stop and waited for Sylia to catch up to her.

"We're close to the exit," she told Sylia-not using the suit's com system.

"How long till we reach it?"

"Four, maybe five minutes."

"Where does it come out?"

"Kannai station. Actually Kannai station is gone, but there is a service tunnel that we can use. We'll be getting a little wet."

"Dumps us in the harbour?"

"Nakamura Grand River."

"Not so bad."

"It's been dry enough lately, we should be all right."

"Once you are out, follow the river to the harbour. We'll take it NOE over the water. Stay close to the shore line, southerly direction."

"Hai," Priss said as she gave hit the accelerator and started down the tunnel. Sylia gave her a few seconds of lead, then started after her.


Akiko was beginning to get worried that she may have made a mistake. It had been more than an hour and still no sign of the Knight Sabers. Perhaps they had ditched the suits and mecha and gone out another way. Or perhaps Domino-san had been wrong and the Knight Sabers were not the ones with Andrews-hakase. They could have just pulled into the tunnels and stopped.

To find out would be difficult, while there were a limited number of exits; there were kilometres upon kilometres of tunnels under the city that could hide them. To search them would require a huge amount of time. She could cut it down with use of drones, but it would still take a few hours to search out all the possibilities.

And while Genom had very good maps of those tunnels, it was always possible that there had been changes. Maybe the Knight Sabers themselves had made a new exit. It would be difficult, but not impossible.

The com system chimed. "This is OP 5 to Sol, we have sighted targets, over."

Akiko let out a sigh of relief as she keyed her com open. "This is Sol to OP 5, send location, over."

"Moving along the Nakamura Grand River, it appears as if they are making for the harbour. Should we follow? Over."

"Negative. Good work. Hold position. Sol out." Akiko cut the connection and changed frequencies. "Control this is Team 1. I have target group M1 on the Nakamura Grand River, can you confirm?"

"Wait one," the tech on the other end told her. Akiko waited for the tech at Control to get back to her. "We have them, currently moving towards the harbour. Transmitting satellite feed to your station, direct, point to point."

"Thanks Control. Team 1 out."

Akiko looked at the monitor as the satellite feed came up. She had a perfect view of the Knight Sabers. Control had given her a very nice feed, using two cameras. One close up and one farther out that allowed her to see the general area they were in.

"Okay," she called to her pilot. "Let's move. We'll stay out over the water, below the horizon. You've got the feed?"

"Hai."

"Good. Parallel their course as best you can. Relay that to the other aircraft."

"Yes ma'am."

Akiko nodded and sat back in her chair. Once the Knight Sabers stopped it would not take long to get the assault team onto them.


Priss came flying out of the tunnel, watching as the far, cement bank came speeding at her. The Typhoon II reconfigured around her, enfolding her in its protective embrace. A blast of the thrusters turned her sharply away from the wall of cement. Moving her back out into the middle of the river.

Sylia came out next, her Hurricane shifting smoothly into its armour form.

Nene's exit was not quite as graceful, and while she managed to avoid the wall, she did end up dunking her Tempest in the river.

Mackie's exit was rather exciting as Yoshiro went flying off the back off the bike. He screamed very loud. Sylia moved up quickly, catching him. Nene moved up and caught his briefcase.

"My case!" he called out.

"Relax Andrews-hakase. It will be too difficult for you to hold onto. You'll get it back," Sylia told him.

"Don't worry," the Knight Saber holding his briefcase told him. "I'll take care of it."

Yoshiro did not have much choice in the matter and simply nodded. A moment later he was passed back to his previous caretaker, Mackie's motoslave having completed its transformation.

Linna exited a moment later, performing the entire manoeuvre very smoothly.

"Let's move out," Sylia ordered.

Priss moved to take point again, the rest of them falling into their previous 'marching order'.

Nene kept the Tempest a few metres behind Sylia's Hurricane. She decided that she had better make sure that they were not being watched.

The way they were moving made it difficult for anyone to follow or watch them without Nene being able to spot a watcher. There was one way though, but with a little work Nene could check that out as well.

As she had told Priss, there were a number of satellites above MegaTokyo, a very useful way to watch the city. She opened the sensor booms on the Tempestwhich turned out to be a bit of a mistake as it increased her air resistance and changed the way the motoslave handled. It took her a few seconds to get the suit back under control after that.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid,' Nene thought at herself as she adjusted the sensor booms to cut the wind resistance a little. Once things were set up she began hunting through the night sky for the satellites she wanted.

Once she had them she began intercepting the signals that were being transmitted from the satellites. With the third one she checked Nene found herself looking down at herself. She was not sure where the signal was being transmitted, but she knew someone was watching.

"One, this is four. We're being watched."

"Satellites?" Sylia asked.

"Yes."

"What can you do about it?"

"If I had more time I'd produce a fake feed for them to watch, but all I can do is shut them out."

"Do so."

"Hai. Four out."


Akiko was taken by surprise when the screen she was watching went to snow. She waited for a moment, just to be sure it was not a momentary glitch. When it became obvious that she was not going to get the picture back she keyed the com system to Control's frequency. "Control, this is Team 1, I've just lost the satellite feed. Tell me what is happening, over."

"Team 1, this is Control, the satellite has been compromised. The frequencies you were using have been shut down. I'm working on getting you a new picture, over."

"Wait one Control," Akiko sent. Obviously the Knight Sabers were not going to let them watch, and she saw no reason to continue to do something that would not work. Best if they thought that they were safe. "Control, I want a look at the coast, and at the ocean up to ten kilometres out. As much as can be scanned at once, over."

"We can do that Team 1, but what are we looking for? Over."

"We'll know it when we see it. Team 1 out."


"Four, this is one, what's the status on watchers? Over."

"It looks clear. I think we're all right, over."

"Good. Out."

How might Genomand she was fairly certain it was Genomfind the now, she wondered. They had probably given up on satellites, or any other similar spotting mechanism. They might send out chasers, or perhaps there were already some in the area. It was a large area though, and the motoslaves would be hard to spot.

That and speed would probably see them safely to the Evac point.

She checked the map display, taking note of how far they were from the Evac point and the nature of the terrainboth natural and artificialthat she would be dealing with. The Evac point was in a rather poor area, with rocky terrain, and a large number of cement breakers piled up near the road.

Not a good place for a fight, or a pick up. There were a few places farther along the coast that would be better. Still, it was too late to change things. And it might work to their advantage if Genom was watching the more likely places.

She activated a tight beam com link, linking it to Nene's Tempest. "Have you completed copying it yet?"

"Almost," Nene replied. "There is a lot."

"Make sure that there is no sign of the tampering."

"Hai, hai."


A few minutes later the Knight Sabers and Yoshiro were hiding within the cement breakers, the ocean waves lapping close by. They had exited their motoslaves. The motoslaves were currently crouched in the cover of some breakers further down the beach. Yoshiro was holding his returned briefcase tight to his chest, as if his life depended on it.

"I'm getting some strange readings from the water," Nene told Sylia. She had placed her hand on the other woman's hardsuit, forming a private link.

"What?"

"I've got some metal readings, maybe thirty meters out."

"Boomers?"

"Maybe, or maybe just an old car, or some junk."

Sylia thought about it for a moment. "Keep an eye on it."

"Hai," Nene said, then paused. "They're coming. Out there." She pointed.

Sylia looked where Nene had indicated, using the vision enhancers in her helmet to spot the low-flying aircraft. A GD Pelican, an American military craft designed for stealth insertions and extractions. Perfect for smugglers. It looked a little like a flying manta ray with a truncated tail.

"Are we clear?" Sylia asked Nene.

"There are some aircraft about twenty kilometres from our present position, but they are holding position. Still no movement from the potential threat."

"Good. Send the signal. Let's move out."

Nene moved out into the open so she could use her laser transmitter to send the message. Best no one else heard any of it. The other Knight Sabers had moved out, forming a protective circle about Andrews as they moved towards the water. Some distance away the motoslaves shifted their position, ready to cover the Knight Sabers if needed.

The Pelican picked up a little speed as it began to approach the shore. In a few moments it would be over.

It was then that the first boomers broke the surface of the water between the Knight Sabers and the approaching Pelican. There were ten of them, 9 C-Class, with one 99C leading the way.

Thanks to Nene's warning Sylia was not surprised. While very curious as to how the boomers came to be waiting for them, she would worry about that and what it might mean later. "Two, three, hold them off. Five keep the package safe. Four, jam them, and get a message off to the support units, we need cover fire."

Even as Sylia was relaying her orders the rest of the Knight Sabers were moving. Priss and Linna rushed forward, splashing into the water. Mackie grabbed Yoshiro and pulled him back amongst the cement breakers. The ordered movement of the boomers became a little ragged as their communications were jammed. The motoslaves began to open fire, perhaps even before Nene had relayed the orders-both a good and bad thing about the improved AIs.

Sylia smiled behind her faceplate, feeling a sense of satisfaction at her team's actions. She raised her suit's arms, powering up the beam cannons.

The 99C arrived first, pushing ahead of its lesser brethren. Linna had moved forward to face it, lifting her power arm, the glow of the primed finger lasers obvious.

The 99C, covered in mud from the sea bottom, leapt, hands extended to grab her.

Linna took to the air, vaulting over the incoming boomer, landing on its back, then leaping up, and towards the other boomers.

The 99C was still tracking Linna so it was taken by surprise by Priss' suddento itappearance. She slammed the knuckle guard on her left hand straight into it, shattering the armour on its side and knocking it aside.

The boomer twisted about, getting its feet solidly under it as the mouth cannon deployed, ready for use.

Priss moved in, side stepping the first shot, avoiding a sweep of its arm, and then pushing her knuckle bomber deep into the rent the knuckle guard had made. The shaped charge sent a lance of superheated gas right through the boomer and out the other side. It also knocked Priss back a little, but she had taken that into account.

As the 99C staggered back, trying to bypass the damaged components, Priss raised her left leg parallel to the ground, cocking the knee. A moment later the lower part of her leg slammed into the boomer's hip, coinciding with the detonation of two of the leg bombers.

The explosive force sent Priss staggering back even as it ripped the large boomer in half. Priss regained her balance and looked towards the remains of the 99C to make sure it was out of the fight.

Linna had been busy as well while Priss fought. Two of the C-Class boomers were down and she was on her third. Spinning in close to it, her ribbons slashed its left arm completely off and its right arm off at the elbow. As it opened it mouth, the cannon pushing forth, she drove her knuckle bomber forward into its opening mouth. The resulting explosion tore the boomer's head right off.

Another boomer lunged towards her, but several bolts of energy lanced through it. One of them must have touched off its fuel for it exploded. "Thanks," Linna called out to Sylia as she turned towards another of the boomers, just before it exploded, torn apart by a burst of cannon fire from the motoslaves.


They were very good, these Knight Sabers, Akiko thought, watching the fight unfold. Less than a minute into it, and already the 99C and six of the C-Class were down. She did not have much hope for the three remaining C-Class.

She shifted her attention to the Pelican that was sitting out there. She suspected the pilot did not want to come into a hot LZ. Understandable of course, but she needed that aircraft closer. Well, once the boomers had been taken care of by the Knight Sabers it was very likely that the pilot would be willing to move closer.

Everything was working out, more or less as she had wanted.


The last of the C-Class fell, taken out by a burst from the Heavy Motoslave's cannon. The motoslaves moved into position on the beach, their weapons held ready. Sylia looked about, wondering if that was it.

"The aircraft are approaching fast," Nene said. "They should be here within a minute."

"Get the package into the water," Sylia told Mackie.

Mackie pushed Yoshiro forward toward the water's edge. The Pelican was slowly moving forward, the turbofans within the wings whipping the water into a froth.

That's when Nene detected the incoming threat, coming in from the opposite side of the road. She relayed the news to Sylia. Sylia took a moment to consider the options open to her, then ordered Priss to take care of the package while the rest of the Knight Sabers moved to meet the new threat.

While it took Priss out of the main fight, Sylia was certain that Priss could keep Yoshiro alive long enough to get him into the Pelican.

The Typhoon II, Sylia's Hurricane, the Heavy Motoslave and Linna's Tornado moved up to the fore, the first line of defence. Nene was letting the Tempest enfold her in its protective cocoon. When the boomers, Dobermans, leapt over the road, coming right at them, they were met with a hail of weapon fire that nearly stopped them. Their return fire was a little off, but the heavy beam cannons were enough to force the motoslaves to give up a little ground.

Linna moved up between the Tempest and the Typhoon, catching one of the Dobermans by surprise. Her knuckle bomber thrust out, slamming into the boomer's abdominal area. The explosive tore a hole into it but did not have enough force to penetrate to the other side.

Linna stepped back as the large boomer lashed out at her with its razor-sharp claws. Before it could connect the Tempest had grabbed the Doberman's arm. On its other side the Typhoon grabbed the other arm. In a savage display of power, the two motoslaves ripped the arms from the Doberman. While the Typhoon dropped the arm and turned towards another threat, the Tempest lay into the Doberman with the boomer's own arm, crushing its head and sending it stumbling back.

Sylia put herself in front of the first of the Dobermans to get past the motoslaves, waiting until it committed to an attack on her. She side-stepped it and let her swords slide free. One slash and the beam cannon on the left arm was cut away. Letting her momentum carry her around the boomer, she next slashed at its propellant tanks. The sword stroke nearly severed one tank-empty as it turned outcompletely away, and cut a deep gash in the second.

The boomer spun about, forcing Sylia to duck to avoid a blast from the remaining beam cannon. She shifted to the side, then stood up, using the power of the suit's legs to drive herself up, both sword blades leading. She cut up through its chest, continuing upwards until the tip of the blade on her right arm was buried in the middle of the boomer's skull.

She then violently pulled the swords free, doing more damage in their removal.

While grievously damaged, the Doberman was still able to counter-attack, sending a kick smashing into Sylia and sending her flying back.

Sylia twisted about, managing to land on her feet, but in a bad position. She was left wide open for the boomer's next attack. The attack never came.

The Hurricane had opened up on the Doberman with its machine cannon as soon as Sylia had been kicked away. With the damage already done to it, the boomer did not last long.

Away from the battle Priss pushed Yoshiro into the water up to their knees. She would have gone deeper, but she did not want the water to hamper her if she had to fight. The Pelican was approaching, but it was obvious that the pilot was being careful. Hurry up, Priss thought.

Behind her the rest of the Knight Sabers were dealing with the three remaining boomers, holding them back. While Priss did not think that the three boomers were much of a threat in the long term, in the short term one might break through and get to Yoshiro. She wanted to get the man stuffed into the Pelican, and then go back to help her teammates finish off the boomers.

The Pelican was about ten metres away when one of the hatches opened. Priss began pushing Yoshiro forward, the water getting deeper as she approached the Pelican. It was almost over.


Akiko had been a little surprised with the ease in which the Knight Sabers handled the Dobermans. She had thought that the units would give them much more trouble. Not so it seemed. They fought well, and they fought together well.

In the end, while it was wasting some valuable resources, she was not displeased with the overall effect.

The Knight Saber in the blue armour was moving Andrews-hakase, and she was sure it was he, towards the Pelican. It was time to act.

She pressed a small signalling unit, sending a small electrical pulse through a landline that ran from her hiding place and into the water. It was the same way she had activated the other boomers she had had hiding under water.

Off shore, to the rear of the approaching Pelican, a large form pushed itself out of the water. A D-Class combat boomer, a very dangerous item to be using in the operation. While she was pushing things with the Dobermans, the combat boomer was nothing but trouble if it was discovered. It was a chance she was willing to take.

The missile tubes on its shoulders opened as it turned itself towards the Pelican. A moment later the area was lit as the rockets began to fire.

Perhaps the pilot of the Pelican, or the Knight Sabers ECM specialist, attempted to jam them. It did not matter if they did. The rockets were line-of-sight weapons, like a bullet.

It was the perfect time to make the attack. The Knight Sabers would have thought that they were close to being victorious, about to complete the mission. The destruction of the Pelican would throw them off, would be a blow to their morale.

Then it would be time for her to move.


Priss was not sure what had just happened. One moment she was closing on the Pelican, the next moment everything exploded. She lost all sense of location and orientation, though her suit sensors were giving her some picture of what was happening.

Suddenly she jolted to a stop, finding herself lying on the beach. It must have been some sort of explosion. The Pelican had blown up. How? No time for that, Priss told herself as she clambered to her feet.

Her suit's diagnostics showed her no real damage to itself. She was quite up to fighting, if need be, though she thought it more likely that she would need run to get Andrews to safety.

Andrews was lying nearby. Prissas well as the other Knight Saberswas getting a medical feed from the suit that Yoshiro wore. He was still alive, and from the signs she was getting she did not think he was in any danger.

Moving up to him, she grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. "You awake?"

"Yes," he said, sounding a little fazed.

Priss looked around. Linna and the Tornado were just finishing up with the last boomer. Sylia, Nene, Mackie, and the other Motoslaves were firing out over the water. Priss looked out past the burning wreckage of the Pelican. Her sensors showed her the D-Class boomer out in the water.

"One, this is two, I've got the package secured. What do you want me to do, over?"

"Get yourself and the package clear," Sylia ordered.

"What about those incoming aircraft?"

"Just get out of here."

"Your call," Priss said. "Two out."

She pushed Yoshiro off in the other direction, thinking that she would make for the road that ran along the shore. At that moment she spotted something coming in fast. She pulled Yoshiro back, trying to put him behind her.

She was not quick enough.

The attacker flashed by. Yoshiro stumbled back, hit. Priss felt a burning pain along her upper, left arm as a blade slashed through her armour. Everything was happening so fast.

The medical analyser chimed loudly in Priss' helmet, indicating the man had been hurt.

She tried to track the fast moving attacker. Human size and shape, it did not look like any boomer she had fought before. It moved so damn fast.

She looked at Yoshiro. It took her a moment to see the hilt of a knife projecting from his chest.

The attacker was coming back, springing from one of the cement breakers, launching itself at Yoshiro.

Priss managed to put Yoshiro behind her as she shifted into a defensive-fighting stance, ready to intercept the attack. She had enough time to see that her attacker was a woman, or at least built like one.

A moment before she would have hit Priss, the woman dropped down, hit the ground, then pushed off with her arms, vaulting over Priss. Priss cursed even as she reached up, trying to grab the woman from the air. She was just a little too slow.

The woman dropped down behind Yoshiro, the knives in her hands lashing out, cutting deep into the armour on his back. Then she leapt back.

Priss spun, bringing her railgun up, but Yoshiro was falling forward and Priss reached out to catch him. Through the thin material of the glove on her use hand she felt the rents in the armour on his back, and the slickness of his blood.

"Damn it all," Priss cursed as she swung Yoshiro around, holding him close to her as she lifted her power arm, tracking the fast moving woman.

She managed to get off a shot before the woman made a near impossible change in her course, rolling across one of the concrete breakers and then leaping at Priss, or more likely at Yoshiro.

Priss held her movement, tracking the woman as she came in, then at the last moment swung around, pulling Yoshiro clear. As the same time she extended her power arm and slammed it into the woman as she passed.

She watched with some satisfaction as the woman hit the sand and bounced into the water. At the same time she was lifting her power arm up, targeting her attacker.

The needle flashed out, grazing the woman across her side as she rolled to her feet. Before Priss could get another shot off the woman was moving at speed again.


Akiko's housekeeping computer kept her from paying attention to the pain. Had she been human she probably would have had her spine snapped by the Knight Saber's blow. Obviously it would be a mistake to underestimate her opposition.

She flipped away from the place where she had landed, pushing her body for all the speed it could give her. She was going to have to end this as soon in possible. The other Knight Sabers would probably arrive soon, and she did not think she would stand a chance against all of them. Then again, the rest of her assault force would also be arriving soon, so maybe she had the time.

It was best to finish it quickly though.


With the last of the Dobermans dealt with the Knight Sabers had turned their full attention towards the D-Class in the water. As soon as the motoslaves started to bring all of their weapons to bear on it, the D-Class disappeared beneath the water again.

Sylia waited a moment, then ordered motoslaves to keep a watch for it as the rest of them moved to help Priss.

It was then that Nene saw the helicopters she had detected earlier were moving in very fast and would be on top of them in seconds. She did not have time to confer with Sylia about what to do. "All stations, dazzle, dazzle, dazzle," she transmitted as she powered up the EMP emitters.

Within seconds the pulse expanded out from the Tempest.

The helicopters suddenly lost all of their electronics, though most of them did not lose their engines. Two did suffer from engine failure and began to fall towards the ocean's surface.

The boomers within the helicopters were also effected by the pulse. More than three-quarters of them shut down. Some, mostly the security models, would need serious work before they would come back on line.

The incoming assault force was out of the picture, for a while at least. Nene felt quite pleased.


One moment everything seemed to be going well. The next it all went to hell. Akiko only knew of the EMP pulse because her night vision goggles shut down and she lost all communications with the incoming assault force. Fortunately her own systems were very well shielded against that sort of thing.

She was fairly certain of what had happened, but she did not let it concern her. She still had a job. It was just going to be harder to do.

She yanked the now useless night vision goggles off, taking the communication gear with it.

There would be no time for anything fancy Akiko thought as she leapt up to the roadway, avoiding another needle. There was a railing along the road, about eighty centimetres high. She landed on the top of it, turned about, and then launched herself towards Andrews-hakase.

All she could do was hope that her speed would be enough to achieve victory and allow her to survive. Survival was secondary to completing her mission though. She owed Domino that.


Priss fired and cursed softly as the needle missed the woman, sinking into one of the concrete breakers instead. "She's fast," Priss said softly as she tried to acquire the target again.

The woman, some sort of boomer Priss was sure, leapt to the top of the railing on the road. She then turned and leapt straight towards Priss.

Priss smiled. You're not that fast, she thought as she locked the railgun on the woman's head. The view zoomed in. At that moment she got her first good look at the target. She had removed that mask she was wearing and Priss could see her face. It was the face of a young woman, of a girl still in school, and there was something in that face, perhaps in the eyes, that reminded her of someone.

Sylvie and Anri.

She had been squeezing the trigger for the railgun, but she hesitated, unable to fire the weapon. It only lasted a moment, the slightest of pauses. It was telling though. The young woman used her foot to hook a piece of driftwood jammed into the breakers. It pitched her forward, neatly avoiding the needle that Priss finally managed to fire.

Priss tried to track her, but she was moving a little too fast, and Priss was still a little distracted by thoughts of the sexaroid she had killed and the one she had watched die.

The woman hit the ground, rolled, and then came up, using her legs to propel herself at Andrews. Priss began to shift him around to put herself between him and the attacker. She did not think she would be fast enough.


The ground rushed up at her. Akiko shifted her foot, freeing it from the branch she had used to change her path of attack. She hit, using her forearms to absorb some of the impact, then redirected her momentum so as to send her into a tight roll.

Now, she thought, as she gathered her legs up underneath her, then lashed out with them, driving herself forward, right at Andrews-hakase.

The Knight Saber in blue tried to move him out of the way, but Akiko's faster reactions made the difference. It was a close thing though.

She lashed out, driving her knife into the man's abdomen, letting the knife slice through the softer armour around the waist, Using the embedded knife as a handle, she carried him with her, breaking him free of the Knight Saber's grip.

She twisted the knife savagely as she spun him about, bringing him around to use as a human shield. Her feet touched the sand and rocks of the beach. She scrambled for purchase and got her feet firmly under her. Andrews-hakase was in front of her, a shield against attack from the Knight Sabers.

Her mission was almost complete. All she had to do was grab the briefcase and get clear.

She reached out and grabbed it, pulling it back. That was when she found out that Andrews had a death grip on it.

She looked up. The Knight Sabers were moving in, fast. She did not have time to play tug of war with this man.


One moment Priss had a firm grip on Andrews. One moment his medical condition was serious, but stable. Then he was torn from her hands and his condition was plummeting. She spun about, feeling as if the air she was moving through had suddenly grown solid.

The other Knight Sabers were approaching, but she did not think they would arrive in time. Why weren't they firing though? Then she saw why. The woman had put Andrews between herself and them.

The woman had grabbed that briefcase and trying to pull it free, but Andrews was not letting it go.

Then a knife flashed, and again. She jerked him around, hard, moving them both along the beach. The knife flashed once more and she gave him a hard push. His lower arm came off, hacked through at the elbow. Andrews was stumbling towards her, or at least that was how it looked to Priss.

The medical feed told her that he was dead, but she could not help but to reach out and catch him.

The woman was moving, leaping towards the road at speed. Andrews' lower arm was discarded to fall to the beach.

Sylia and the others must have started to fire at the woman. Priss let Andrews go, bringing her railgun up, opening fire on the fleeing murderer. She might have been hit, Priss could not say for sure. She vaulted the rail and was gone from sight.

She was about to follow when the first helicopter flew overhead. From it boomers fell to land on the beach around her.


Sylia was amazed at how the attacker moved. She was so fast, unbelievably fast, like something form a nightmare. Even as she was firing at her, Sylia did not think that she would hit. Then the target was gone.

Sylia considered her options. She would leave Mackie and Nene behind to take care of Andrews-hakase. She could not be sure he was dead, even though the medical feed told her that he was. She, Linna and Priss would go after the killer.

Her plans were spoiled by the arrival of the helicopters. They were not the ones that Nene had dealt with. They were new arrivals that had come in overland.

From them a number of boomers dropped into the area. Her suit's computer identified them as modified 55Cs. They were all carrying weaponsheavy particle cannons, prototypes. They were extremely dangerous to use in close quarters, though Sylia did not think that the boomers were worried about that.

A boomer, still in human guise, had landed with them. Black suit, the lower cuffs of the pants covered in damp sand after the landing, dark sunglasses. He looked right at Sylia.

"Knight Sabers," he called out in an unnaturally loud voice that they had no trouble hearing. "This is over. Go in peace now and no one else will get hurt. Push the fight and no one walks away from here."

Priss eased Yoshiro's body gently to the beach, and then she stood and began walking towards the boomer in the suit. Her body language, even muted as it was by the hardsuit she wore, spoke of violence. Sylia was certain that they could prove the boomer wrong, that they would walk away from there. Then she looked toward where Mackie stood, and over at the dead body of Andrews-hakase.

"Two, stop," Sylia ordered.

"What?" Priss asked.

"There is no need for this fight. It's over."

Priss shifted her attention between Sylia and the boomer, knowing Sylia was right, but at the same time she was very angry.

Her railgun snapped up, she moved so fast that none of the boomers had time to react.

The boomer in the suit stumbled back, a needle projecting from its shoulder. It looked surprised that its arm was still attached.

"Next time we meet, you take one of those at full power," Priss said, her modulated voice ringing out.

The boomer reached up and pulled the needle from its shoulder. "Next time," it said, letting the steel spike, covered in its blood and other internal fluids, drop to the sand.

"That was stupid," Sylia sent Priss on a tight beam.

"I know," Priss said.

Sylia ordered the Knight Sabers to fall back.

Some distance away a helicopter, marked with red crosses, was landing. From the roadway Sylia watched as paramedic boomers stripped Yoshiro of his protective armour. Even before they had him free of the armour it was obvious there was nothing they could do. All the Knight Sabers watched as the man was zipped into a body bag.

They rode off, leaving the boomers to clean up the mess.


"Your losses were quite high," Domino said.

"I know. I am sorry," Akiko said.

Domino was sitting at her desk. Akiko was sitting opposite her, still in the combat suit she had been wearing earlier. On the desk between them was the briefcase.

"They were acceptable losses for the most part. The helicopters did take significant damage, however."

Akiko nodded. "I know. I did not expect that the Knight Sabers to have such weaponry."

Domino smiled. "Be careful. Underestimating the Knight Sabers has resulted in a number of people becoming dead."

"Why not destroy them?"

"It would be difficult, and possibly noisy, but that is not why. The Knight Sabers are a very useful resource. They have worked for Genom in the past, they will again. In working against us they keep us sharp. When you find a worthy, honourable enemy, keep them."

Akiko looked a little confused, but nodded anyway.

"Go and get your wounds treated, then go home and get some rest. I'll want a report from you by the close of business tomorrow."

Akiko got to her feet, stepped back from the desk, and then bowed deeply. "Thank you very much." She turned and walked towards the door.

When she reached the door Domino called out, "You did good work."

Akiko looked back and smiled. Then she left.

Domino waited until the door was closed, then reached for her phone. She tapped in a number and waited until it was picked up. "Miss Lin, I want you to come to my office, as soon as possible."


Tuesday March 14th, 3:14am

"What did she cut you with?" Sylia asked, looking at the gash in Priss' hardsuit.

"Probably with something like this," Priss said, holding the knife she had pulled from Yoshiro's chest.

Sylia looked at the knife, and the dried blood on it. She reached out and took it from Priss.

"What do you think it is?" Priss asked her.

"Something new I suppose," Sylia told her as she looked the blade over. "I'll examine it later, see if there might be some sort of defence I can work out in case we face it or similar again."

Priss nodded. "You know that boomer, it reminded me of a 33-S."

"It was a 33-S," Sylia told her. "Second generation."

"Something else new?"

"Not really. Combat sexaroid, using a move by wire system to get the performance we witnessed. Very deadly." Sylia pulled out some tools and began working on the cut in the armour.

"Why haven't we seen them before?"

"The entire experiment was a failure. All the units developed a form of neurological damage that killed them. That one we saw might very well be the last one."

Priss was silent for a time. "That's kind of sad when you think about it."

"I suppose," Sylia said.

"Mackie-kun and Ojisan are packing up all the kit to take it back. They're doing quick patches on everything. Linna took Nene home."

Sylia nodded. "Good. What about you?"

"I don't know, I'll find some place to crash. I don't like wandering into their place after midnight."

"Sounds like you are being a conscientious house guest. What has living with the Romanovas been like?"

Priss smiled. "They're the decent sort of people I thought I despised. Ali-san is a dangerous woman."

"How so?"

"Given time she might reform me."

Sylia smiled slightly at that. "That would be something I'd like to see."

"Well you aren't going to see it. I'll clear out of there soon enough."

"It seems Nene-san thought that she might do that sometime ago," Sylia told Priss as she began to pack up her tools. "I'll get this fixed up in a day or two. There is no serious damage. What about your shoulder?"

Priss looked at the bandage wrapped around her upper arm. "Wasn't that deep. A couple of butterfly suture strips closed it up nice and clean. Probably won't even be a scar." Priss paused and then shook her head. "Teme," she cursed, but with no feeling.

"What?" Sylia asked.

"Romanova Ali-san is a very dangerous woman. You think that you are winning, but suddenly you find yourself saying exactly what she would have wanted you to say. Gods, I'm amazed that Nene-chan actually managed to get away from her."

"I'm sure you'll both survive. Is there anything that needs to be taken care of?"

"Linna-san tell you that she is staying?"

"Yes. A pleasant surprise."

Priss nodded. "So what was in the briefcase."

"I'd rather not say."

"Tell me anyway."

Sylia stopped herself from sighing. "As you guessed Nene-san got one of her fibre optic lines into the case. There was memory storage module in it. She linked up with it and copied it all. While she has only broken the encryption on a very small part of it, I'm sure that it is my father's research and notes."

"His boomer stuff?"

Sylia nodded.

"I take it you are not happy about that."

"It's bad enough that Genom has it. I don't want someone else misusing it as well." Sylia got to her feet. "I'll finish packing up here. You can go. Stop by my apartment tomorrow and we'll work up some after action reports and figure out the costs."

"Think the clients are going to be upset with us?"

"Probably, but it won't be a problem."

Priss nodded, then turned and walked from the room.

Sylia remained for a moment, looking at the cut in the armour of Priss' suit, but not really seeing it. Andrews-hakase had been one of her father's assistants, a friend as far as she knew, and now he was dead. Killed by Genom. And yet he had tired to sell her father's work to, well, someone. She did not think that this someone would use it in any way she would have approved of. She was not sure whether to be sad that he was dead, or glad. She did not know whether to add this to the crimes of Genom, or to thank them for dealing with him.

It was all very confusing.


Priss walked across the stained floor of the garage. In the far repair bay Mackie and Dr. Raven were loading the truck up with the armour and motoslaves. She walked towards them. "Oi, Mackie-kun, Ojisan."

"Hakase!" Raven barked.

Priss smiled. "Hai, hai. Need any help?"

"No," Mackie said. "We've almost got everything finished."

Priss nodded. "So, where's my car?" she asked Raven.

"I sent it out to a contractor."

"I thought maybe you had tossed it into that junk heap out back."

"Not yet."

"Call me when its been fixed up then," Priss told him as she started walking towards her bike.


Rebecca looked over the data that ran across her screen. "It's been copied," she said, looking up at Domino. "Good job too. You almost can't see it."

"When exactly?" Domino asked her.

"Earlier this morning, started at 1:16am, finished at 1:18am."

Domino nodded. "It is not a problem then. I am not concerned about that person having the information."

"Who?"

"That is need to know, and you have no need to know."

"I hate being kept in the dark," Rebecca said quietly.

Domino reached out and disconnected the memory module from the computer. "Thank you for coming so fast."

"No problem. I really don't need much sleep now."

"A silver lining in every cloud Miss Lin. How is your new roommate working out?"

Rebecca said nothing for a few seconds, then look at Domino. "I really like Kiki-san."

"Akiko," Domino corrected her as she put the module back into the briefcase.

"She likes to be called Kiki."

"It's probably not good for her. It's the pet name of a dead girl."

"That's morbid."

"But true. I take it you like her."

Rebecca nodded. "She's really nice. She kind of reminds me of Jasmine. Is she really dying?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything that can be done?"

"No."

Rebecca looked upset. With her child's face it made it look as if she was about to cry. "But she's a boomer."

"That does not preclude her from dying," Domino told her. "She, and you, are very close to human. So close you share many of our frailties."

"It's unfair."

"One might say that life is like that. Go home."

"Maybe," Rebecca said. Then she looked at Domino, her face growing hard. "I still don't like you."

"I'm aware of that." Domino was careful not to smile.


Priss had not been sure where she was going to go. She had considered heading to her new place and crashing there, but the carpenters would be showing up later to finish the work. She had thought about a coffin hotel, then discounted it. She wanted someone to talk to. Someone who would understand what she was going through.

The nights in District 24, seeing that sexaroid, being reminded of Sylvie and Anri, watching Andrews die, it had brought back a number of memories that Priss would have preferred to do without.

She needed to be with someone.

That was how she ended up standing in front of Miako's door, early in the morning. She knocked, not to loudly, part of her hoping that the door would not open. She waited a minute and was about to leave when the hall light just outside the door came on.

A few seconds later the door opened. Miako stood there in a large T-shirt that went almost to her knees. "Priss-san? What are you doing here?"

Priss was suddenly at a loss for words. She could not really explain to Miako what had happened. "It's been a bad night in some ways," she finally said. "Can I come in?"

Miako looked a little puzzled, but then smiled. "Please do."

Priss stepped into the apartment, pulling the door closed behind her. Miako took a pair of slippers from the cabinet by the door and placed them down. Priss slid her feet out of her riding boots and then stepped up, out of the genkan. She put her feet into the slippers.

Miako reached around her, her body brushing Priss, as she locked the door.

"Sorry about showing up here like this," Priss said.

"Sleep is over rated," Miako told her. "Come on." She turned and walked down the small hallway.

Priss followed her. The hallway opened into a large room with little furniture other than a few stools and a large table. Across the table were scattered hundreds of photographs. "My studio," Miako said with a smile.

Priss nodded as she looked around, drifting towards a set of framed pictures on one wall. They were all landscapes. "These are very beautiful," Priss said after a moment.

"My nature phase," Miako said. "Back when I wasn't so bitter."

Priss nodded. "I can relate."

"Want some coffee?"

"No."

"Beer?"

"No thanks," Priss turned to face Miako.

"Marijuana? Cocaine? Valium? Methamphetamine? If you want something a bit more exotic I can have it delivered in under an hour."

"I don't want any drugs," Priss told her firmly.

"Okay, then what?"

"It's been a bad night, and I need to talk, but I can't talk."

"Ah, one of those nights."

"Yes." Priss nodded.

"Need my help to move a body?"

"No," Priss said, smiling.

"Can you tell me anything?"

"I'm just dealing with a lot of old memories. I thought you'd understand."

"I probably do." Miako walked over to Priss. "You can sleep here."

Priss nodded. "Thanks." She turned back to the pictures. "So why don't you do work like this anymore?"

"I stopped taking nature photos when I left Kasuga-sensei."

"Kasuga-sensei?"

"An old man who took me off the street after the quake. Started to teach me about photography and stuff. He was sort of a father figure at first, then he became more." She reached out and touched the glass over a picture of a sunrise on Fuji-san. "A real May December relationship I guess you could call it.

"His daughters did not approve, not that I can really blame them. I was a lot younger then them. I was younger than their kids actually. It got kind of tense near the end and I finally bailed. Sort of sad I guess. I figure he's dead by now."

"Sort of sad," Priss agreed.

Miako looked at Priss, watching her as she stared at the photograph. Finally she reached out and took Priss' hand. Priss looked at her, a little confused. "Come on." She gave Priss a gentle pull. Priss could have resisted, but instead she allowed Miako to lead her to the bedroom.

Miako turned Priss then pushed her back so she landed on the bed. Without saying anything she pulled off her T-shirt, which was all she had been wearing, and then climbed into the bed. She moved herself around so she was on her hands and knees, her face just above Priss'.

"Sometimes it helps you know. If only in that you can forget for a while. Drugs are easier I suppose, but not as satisfying." Miako waited to see if Priss would reply. When it became obvious Priss was not going to say anything she lowered her head until her lips touched Priss'.

For a time Priss just lay there as Miako did all the work. Then she reached out, wrapping her arms around Miako, drawing her close to herself, holding her tight. Forgetting for a time did not seem like a bad thing, and it had been a long time.


The sun had been up for a few hours and the day was warming, a little. It would not be long before spring arrived. New beginnings, Sylia thought as she stared down on the street below her. She had managed a little sleep since she had come back to the apartment, enough to feel a little refreshed.

The morning news was full of stories about the death of Yoshiro Andrews. Killed in a car crash, so the news reported. Alcohol was suspected to be the cause. The police were investigating.

Genom was always very good at cleaning up their messes.


Domino walked through the halls of the upper executive level feeling a good deal better than she had for the past few days. With the Andrews matter dealt with, and the data recovered, she was again in Quincy's good graces. She had cleaned up her own mess, which was what was important. Of course being in his favour did not mean she was completely safe in the Tower. All the old power games still applied after all.

What she did not have to worry about was someone trying to undercut her just because they thought Quincy would let them.

It made everything easier.

She stopped in front of the heavy oak door that led into Madigan's office suite. She paused for a moment, then opened the door. "Excuse me," she said as she entered.

"Good evening Odotte-sama," one of Madigan's office ladies said, bowing to her. "How can I help you?"

"I'd like to talk to Madigan-san, if she has time," Domino told her. She knew that Madigan had no reason to see her. Domino hoped that she would anyway.

"Of course. Please wait one moment," she said, then bowed before turning and walking toward the door to Madigan's office.

Another office lady came up to Domino and offered her a cup of tea and asked if she would like to sit down.

Before Domino could answer, the first office lady came out of Madigan's office. "Madigan-sama can see you," she told Domino.

"Thank you," Domino said, placing the untouched teacup back on the tray the second office lady carried. She walked towards Madigan's office, stepping through the doorway. The office lady closed it behind her.

"Thank you for your time," Domino said to Madigan, bowing just enough.

"Odotte-san, you need my help," Madigan said, not bothering with any pleasantries.

Domino smiled. "I would prefer to say that we will both help each other, but yes, I need your help. My association with you would help to dispel any thoughts that I might still be in a position of weakness."

"I know how it helps you, how will it help me?"

"Privileged information. Oh, Quincy-shachou will no doubt inform you, but if you come with me, now, you will get it earlier."

Madigan said nothing for a moment. She knew the value of information, and she knew that the sooner one knew something the better. It was a very tempting offer. "And what if the information is not as valuable as the favour I will be doing you?"

"It is."

"But what if it isn't?"

"Then I'll owe you a favour won't I?"

Madigan considered Domino's words for a moment. "That will be acceptable. I take it you want to do whatever we are going to do now?"

"Yes."

"Just let me clear a few things up."


The first thing he was aware of was the pain. Not terrible pain really, just kind of a background throb. With the pain was a feeling, like he was wrapped up in cotton. Probably drugs he realised, for the pain. Okay, he could deal with that.

After a moment he became aware of voices.

"How is he?" A voice he recognised asked.

"He's well. We've repaired all damage. We don't expect any problems," a male voice he did not know replied.

"This is brilliant," a voice he thought sounded familiar, but could not recognise, said. "How have you kept it secret?"

"My people know how to keep silent. Is he awake?"

"Soon," the male voice said.

He heard a sound, a tapping. It came closer, then stopped. There was a stinging as he was slapped across the face. "Wake up Andrews-hakase," Domino said.

Yoshiro's eyes fluttered open. He found himself staring up at Domino. "Odotte," he said. He was in Genom. At least he was still alive.

"Don't forget me," the owner of the other voice said. It was Katherine Madigan. The two of them together? Suddenly he felt very worried.

"How are you feeling Hakase?"

"There is a little pain," he told her.

"Yes, I would expect that. You must forgive Sheffield-san; she was only following my orders. The knives she stuck you with, do you remember?"

Yoshiro had flashes of something, a fight in the beach, pain in his chest, then back, and then abdomen. A lot of pain. "Yes," he said.

"They killed you. You were officially dead."

"Fortunately for you Genom has the technology to deal with that," Madigan said, leaning close to his face. "You were quite lucky. Most of you is still very organic."

"The cybernetics are well below that special seventy percent mark. Mostly just a few augmentations to your heart and lungs," Domino told him. "We did have to replace your arm though. I do hope you understand about that. Sheffield-san just did not have time to be neat about it. I'm sure you don't mind."

"My arm?"

"Replaced with the best Genom has to offer," Madigan told him. "No one will ever know it is not real."

"Unless," Domino laughed, "someone tries to cut it off."

"There is that." Madigan said.

Yoshiro felt ill.

"You look pale Andrews-hakase. Are you sure you are all right?"

Yoshiro nodded.

"Good, because we need to talk."

"Yes, we have a lot to talk about," Madigan said.

"About all your dealings with our enemies," Domino told him, leaning over him.

"And anything else we might find interesting."

"You might as well know you are dead doctor, legally that is."

"We'll be having your funeral service tomorrow. We wish it to be over with so it will not colour Bestar-san's tribute to the late Stingray-hakase." Madigan smiled.

"If you are legally dead, it is very easy for you to become actually dead," she stressed both 'legally' and 'actually'.

"Very easy."

"You should know I am quite capable of torturing you, but I would rather not. For our old times sake. Tell us everything we need to know and you won't be hurt." Domino smiled down at him.

"Any more than you all ready are of course."

"Of course." Domino looked across at Katherine still smiling.

Yoshiro looked between them, knowing that they would do as they said. He felt terrified but tried to tell himself it was just an effect of Odotte's pheromones. It did not help.

In the end he had no choice if he wanted to live. When it came to his life, decisions became very easy.


Quincy had said nothing as both Odotte and Madigan made their reports to him. He just listened as he learned how Andrews had sold them out. When they had finished he turned in his chair and looked out the windows. "Odotte-kun."

"Hai!"

"Will you be able to use this information to discover who our enemies are."

"Hai."

"Good. Madigan-kun."

"Hai."

Quincy nodded. "You may both go now."

The two women bowed in unison, not even noticing it, then left his office as they had been commanded.

Quincy looked out the windows at his city. An interesting gambit on the part of their enemy, but it had failed. And in making it they revealed more than they knew. As good as they were, they still had much to learn. Quincy had no intentions of giving them that time.


Wednesday March 15th, 9:46pm

The TV in Linna's living room was the only light source. The flickering light revealed Linna and Nene sitting at the kotatsu, their feet under the table, covered by the blanket. Somewhere under there Neko occasionally nipped at Nene's feet, making her giggle. Priss was just behind them, lying on the couch.

On the table were several bags of empty chip bags, juice and beer cans.

It was a party of sorts that Linna was throwing because she was staying. Nene, who had not even known that Linna was planning on leaving, had not known whether to be happy or angry. She still did not, but had decided to enjoy the movies they had come to Linna's place to watch.

"Oh please!" Priss said as the movie reached a point that she could not believe. It had not been the first such part.

"Quiet," Nene snapped. "I'm trying to watch this."

"Yeah, save your whining until the movie ends," Linna said as she picked up the remote to rewind the movie back to the part before Priss had interrupted. Priss bounced an empty beer can off her head.

The movie played out again until the end. When the credits began to roll Priss said, "Well, that was stupid."

"What do you mean?" Nene asked her. "I thought it was very romantic."

"Please," Priss said. "Let's look at it, especially that last part. You have this stripper..."

"Exotic dancer," Linna said.

"What?"

"She was an exotic dancer."

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes!" Linna snapped. "A big difference."

"Have you ever been an exotic dancer?" Nene asked Linna, smiling.

"I thought you were on my side."

"I'm on which ever side is not making fun of me."

"Okay," Priss said. "You've got an exotic dancer, who is also a welder, which is a mix that makes so much sense. Anyway, our dancer slash welder manages to audition for a big city ballet company and gets in. Not only that, she ends up with the guy with the Porsche. Sure."

"It's not that impossible," Linna told her.

"Why? Did you get a rich guy?" Priss asked, reaching for a new beer.

"Maybe," Linna said.

"What?" Nene asked. "Have you got a new boyfriend."

"That would make what, the tenth this year?" Priss asked her.

"If I do have a boyfriend, it is only the second, well, third if you count that computer programmer."

"So does this one have a Porsche?" Priss asked her.

"That sort of thing in none of your business."

"I have a boyfriend," Nene said suddenly.

"What?" Linna asked.

"Does he have a Porsche?" Priss asked her.

"I met him at work. He is so cute. A great kisser too," Nene said, blushing slightly.

"Does kaa-san know about this?" Priss asked playfully.

"No, and you better not tell her," Nene warned.

"Or what? You'll have your cat attack me?"

"Something like that."

Priss smiled. "I'll keep your secret, if you help me get a new computer."

"A new computer?' Nene asked.

"I'll need something for my studio," Priss told her.

"Deal," Nene said.

"When are you going to move in?" Linna asked her.

"Tomorrow, the next day. Whenever."

"So, are you dating anyone Priss?" Nene asked.

"As if my life is not already complicated enough." Priss got up from the couch. She handed a beer to Linna, then one to Nene. "Let's drink to Linna staying." She opened her own beer.

The other two opened their beer cans, and then raised them so they clicked against Priss'.

"Kampai," the all said together, then took a drink.

"So what do we watch next?" Linna asked.

"What else?" Priss asked, smiling.

"Oh no, not again," Linna said.

"Yes," Priss told her.

"What?" Nene asked.

"That movie," Linna said. "Yet again."

"What movie?" Nene asked, feeling like she was being left out of something.

Priss smiled broadly. "The Seven Samurai."


Tech Notes: Akiko's Knives - The knives that Akiko used were made out of medium grade Abotex, grown in microgravity conditions. They are very, very expensive.

Abotex Knife
Conceal: 7
Reach: -
Damage: (STR)S
Weight: .5
Availability: NA
Cost: 3500000 yen
Street Index: 3
Legal: 8-K

Note: These weapons can be treated as being Dikoted and as such can cut hardened targets.

Genom Experimental Heavy Particle Cannon - The weapons pack a very powerful punch, but generate a great deal of heat, as well as small, electrical discharges in the immediate area when they are fired. They also are extreme power hogs and can only be fired so many times.
What they do do well is intimidate people.
Genom hopes to deal with the problems and make the weapon a standard add-on for boomer armament.

Heavy Particle Cannon
Conceal: -
Ammo: 4(m)
Mode: SS
Damage: 16D
Weight: 40
Availability: NA
Cost: 75000000 yen
Street Index: 4
Legal: 1-K RC: -
The weapon is considered to be armour piercing.

Note: The weapons will not accept any accessories at this point. The electrical discharges and heat would damage them if it were attempted to put them on.

"It's unthinkable to be disturbed at something like being ordered to become a ronin. People...used to say 'If one has not been a ronin at least seven times he will not be a true retainer. Seven times down, eight times up.' One should understand that it is something like being a self-righting doll. The master is also apt to give such orders as a test"
- Yamamoto Tsunetomo