An Alternate Story of the Knight Sabers
2034 Year of the Tiger
Neo No Armour Against Fate (Section 5 of 5)
No Armour Against Fate (2 of 10)
by Shawn Hagen(2000)
Based on situations and characters created by Suzuki Toshimichi.
Friday, March 31st, 10:07am
Sayako Sheffield had lost her daughter in the Second Kanto quake. She had grieved and she had thought she had dealt with the pain. Then, several years later, when Genom put her to work on the design team for the Second Generation 33-Ss, she had done something stupid. She had done something wonderful. She did not really know what she had done, even now.
She had given a 33-S the face and form of her lost daughter.
It had seemed so harmless at the time, just something to honour Akiko, her little Kiki. She had not expected that she would grow close to that boomer. She had not expected that she would come to see her as a daughter, but that had happened.
What a wonderful thing to have her daughter, in a way, back. What a terrible pain when she discovered that the Second Gens were doomed to die.
And now Kiki was dead.
Still, even in her death, Sayako discovered something wonderful.
At what she had thought was simply going to be herself crying over the ashes of a boomer she had come to see of as her daughter, others had come. Akiko's friends, co-workers, people who had known her in the short time she had been active since Domino Odotte had taken her away from the storage facility.
It had been less than a month since she had been taken, and in so little of a time she had touched so many lives, done so much. Sayako was so proud of her at the same time she mourned. The boomer had truly done much to honour her namesake.
It made it a little easier to deal with.
"Sheffield-san," someone said from behind her.
She turned. The woman who had addressed her was of average height. She was almost beautiful, but not quite. Sayako knew she had seen the other woman around, but could not put a name to her face. "Yes?" she said.
"My name is Satto Shileea. I knew your daughter. She was a very good person."
Sayako recognised the name. It was likely that Shileea Satto knew the full truth behind Kiki. "Thank you Satto-hakase. You would have treated Kiki-chan..." she paused. "How was she in the end?"
"She was dying, she knew it. She was happy though."
"Thank you Satto-hakase."
"Perhaps there is someone you should talk to."
"Oh? Who?"
Shileea looked across the room at a young girl who stood alone in a far corner. "Her name is Rebecca Lin. She was a friend of your daughter's."
Sayako looked at the girl, wondering how she had come to know Kiki.
Shileea, guessing what Sayako might be thinking said, "She is not what she looks like."
Sayako was about to ask what the meant when she suddenly understood. "I see."
"It might help if you speak with her."
"Thank you again Satto-hakase," Sayako said as she started towards Rebecca.
"Don't mention it," Shileea said.
Sayako crossed the room to where the girl stood. She was wearing a black A line dress and sweater, a very simple outfit. She looked as lost as Sayako felt. "Excuse me Lin-san," Sayako said. "I was wondering if we could talk."
Rebecca looked up at the older woman, a little surprised. "About what?" she asked, trying not to be rude. Akiko's death still weighed heavily on her.
"I've been told that you knew my daughter. I'd like to talk to you about her. Maybe it would help us both." She tried her best to smile.
Rebecca nodded after a moment then did her best to echo Sayako's smile.
"They might actually be able to help each other," Shileea said, watching as Rebecca and Sayako began to speak.
"Perhaps," Domino said.
"It was a good idea." Shileea turned to look at Domino. "It was very kind of you."
"Do you think so?" Domino asked.
"You are trying to help them."
Domino's face was partially hidden by the black veil she wore, but her smile was easily seen. "Sheffield-hakase is a very useful employee for Genom, but is already suffering from depression. If Miss Lin can help her get over that, all the better. Miss Lin could be a very useful operative, if she can get over her various problems. Sheffield-hakase may be able to help her do that.
"If neither thing happens then Sheffield-hakase will be transferred to some department where her eventual breakdown will not cause any problems and Miss Lin will be dealt with. Do you think it is being very kind?"
Shileea said nothing for a time, then, "No, but the question is if you really believe it."
"I suppose we will find out if they don't help each other. Now if you will excuse me Satto-hakase, I have a golf date in Okinawa." Domino turned and started towards the exit.
Adam Schwarz sat in a small cell in the USSD's Tokyo headquarters. He was on suicide watch and there was nothing in the cell, nothing about his clothes, that he might use to kill himself. He had tried to kill himself when he had first been brought there, after Genom hand handed him over to the USSD.
It had been a futile attempt and he had lost the strength to try again. He was too afraid now.
So he waited, knowing that he was to be moved out of Japan, probably to New York where he would fade from public thought. And when there was no more chance someone of importance would ask to see Adam Schwarz, they would kill him.
It had all been so pointless. He had thought he was getting vengeance for his father, against the USSD who had cut him loose and made him their fool to avoid taking responsibility for their own stupidity. He had thought he would get vengeance against Genom, who was behind it all, he was certain of that.
Now Genom had leverage to use against the USSD and his father's ace card, the back door into the satellites, was gone. Uselessly wasted by Adam.
His father had not come to see him, had not even returned the one call he had made to him. Was the USSD keeping him away or was he ashamed of his son and would not come to see him? It was just another embarrassment for him to endure. Perhaps his father was in another cell, put there for hiding the secret access codes. Had he been so stupid as to get his father arrested?
His intentions had been good, almost noble, he was certain. He had trusted Douglas, and that had been a mistake it seemed. The man had been mad and he had lied to them all.
The door to his cell opened and one of the guards stepped in. He was carrying a taser in his hand. "It is time for you to leave," the man said, his voice emotionless.
Adam considered fighting, but knew it would be fruitless. The guard would hit him with the taser and then he would be carried wherever they were taking him. He stood and then turned, letting the guard secure his hands behind his back.
He was walked through the halls. He did not know where he was exactly but assumed that he was underground. At the end of the hall was an elevator. Two guards entered the elevator with him and one of them reached out and pressed one of the unmarked buttons. A moment later the doors closed and the car began to ascend.
A minute later the doors opened on the roof. A helicopter waited there, obviously for him. He was led to it, and then helped in. The guards secured him to his seat, one remained in the passenger section with him while the other guard leapt out and moved clear. A moment later the engine started and the rotors began to spin.
"Where are we going?" Adam finally asked.
"The airport," the guard said. "From there New York."
Adam nodded. It was as he had expected.
Not long afterwards the helicopter lifted from the roof, spun on its central axis until it was facing East, towards the airport. It began moving forward, picking up speed, taking Adam towards his fate.
"Leon-chan, looks like they are moving the package," Emiko Kimble said in her sing song voice. "Want me to go and spank them?"
"Force them down Emiko, but don't kill anyone."
"I'll think about it," Emiko said as she pulled back on the yoke, and twisted the throttle. Her Algonquin leapt up, moving out of the cover of the buildings, chasing after the USSD helicopter. She easily had more speed and power than the civilian helicopter and, if it came down to it, the firepower to turn it into flaming wreckage.
Of course she had no intention of blowing it out of the sky, but she had no need to let the other pilot know that.
As she began closing on the other aircraft she toggled the communication system to the air control frequency. "USSD Delta Charlie Six this is the AD Police. I am ordering you to land your helicopter now," she said using her calm voice.
"What? This is a USSD helicopter with USSD immunity; you have no right to make any such request. Back off or I will file a complaint."
"They want to play," Emiko said softly. She gave her throttle another slight twist, pulling on it at the same time, altering the angle of the blades slightly as she moved her yoke to the side. The high-speed, attack helicopter leapt forward, moving to the port side of the USSD helicopter. "Again, I repeat, put down now."
"You cannot do this!" the other pilot snapped. He covered the boom mike and turned to his co-pilot. Emiko could not hear what he was saying, but she could guess. Probably telling the co-pilot to call for help.
Emiko shook her head. "They never learn." A twist of the controls and an agile dance on the foot pedals sent the Algonquin swinging out in front of the other helicopter, nose to nose, the Algonquin flying backwards. There was less than metre between the nose-mounted chain-guns of the Algonquin and the cockpit of the USSD helicopter. The rotors of the helicopter spun over head, centimetres away from the canopy of the Algonquin. It was the sort of flying Emiko lived for.
The other pilot came close to panicking and in doing so might have caused both aircraft to crash. As it was he was just good enough to avoid that, but it was close. His nervousness was understandable as he was staring right down the barrel of one of the chain-guns.
"Going to put down now?" Emiko asked in her sweet voice. Just above her the rotors of the other aircraft spun by, the air currents causing a great deal of turbulence. She kept control of the Algonquin though.
"You'll be arrested for this," the other pilot said, even as he was looking around for some clear space to land the helicopter in.
"We'll see," Emiko said as she backed off from the other helicopter. She watched as the aircraft descended to the open space of a playing field. The few people there ran to get clear as the helicopter landed.
Even as it was approaching the ground several ADP vehicles moved into the area, led by a Roadchaser.
Leon knew there was going to be some trouble over what he was doing, and most of it was going to land squarely on his shoulders. It was a chance he was willing to take in hopes of getting some answers. He was getting tired of spending so much time in the dark.
He skidded the Roadchaser to a halt just in front of one of the concrete pillars that marked the boundaries of the park. He was out of his car and running towards the helicopter even as it was putting down.
As he ducked down to avoid the danger of the rotors he removed his badge from his jacket and pulled his Earthshaker from its shoulder holster. He put the badge between his teeth so he had a free hand. When he got to the helicopter he yanked open the door to the passenger compartment, then grabbed his badge from his mouth and held it in front of him. "ADP, we're conducting an investigation into a possible threat to the city." He had to yell to make his voice carry over the sound of the engine.
"You can't do this!" the guard yelled back.
"Then file a formal complaint. Now get out!"
The guard began to reach for his taser but Leon swung his Earthshaker up, pointing it directly at the guard. The weapon was loaded with gel rounds, but the guard did not know that. "Don't try it!"
Several other officers had moved in as well. None of them were in full combat gear, but they were in their work dress, .454 automags at the their sides, in holsters. With the Algonquin hovering directly overhead, the guard and the pilots knew very well that they were outgunned. They did as they were told and got out of the helicopter.
Once they were out Leon climbed into the passenger compartment and put one of the headsets on. "Adam Schwarz," Leon said, "we need to talk."
"Are you here to..." Adam started.
"No," Leon said, guessing what he was going to ask. "I'm not here to help you escape. You are being legally deported and there is nothing the ADP can do about that."
"Then why are you here?"
"Tell me what happened last Saturday night."
Adam stared at Leon for several seconds. "Why should I?"
"We don't have much time. If you don't tell me what happened then it is likely that no one outside the USSD will know. We both know there is a good chance you are going to disappear once this all blows over. Someone should know."
"I did this for my father," Adam said. "He was just trying to do his job, do what the USSD wanted, and what happened was not his fault. The USSD could not let anyone know how vulnerable they could be, so my father had to go down for them." Adam was silent for a few seconds. "The bastards hung him out to dry, destroyed everything he had stood for. They destroyed him. That's why I did it."
"Did what?"
"I was approached by a man named Douglas Meren, he wanted me to help him with a job."
"What job?"
"We were going to take over the USSD particle satellites, hold the city for ransom, make Genom pay us. We would hurt both Genom and embarrass the USSD. That is what Douglas told me."
"So what went wrong?"
"Douglas had it all worked out. We just sit tight and wait. They'd give us what we wanted, but then it all went to hell. He let the Knight Sabers up to negotiate. He said no negotiations!"
"Why did he let the Knight Sabers up?"
"I don't know."
"Who was this Douglas Meren?"
"I'm not sure. He was American."
Leon looked at his watch. He did not have much time left. "Who else was involved in this?"
Adam gave him a list of names, telling Leon what they had done in the group. "Meren screwed up somehow. I got a chance to talk to some of the others before Genom stormed in. He was not really looking for the money. He had lied to us."
"What did he want?"
"I don't know."
"Why you? What did you bring?"
"I had some access codes to the satellites, back doors my father had put in for security."
"Thank you," Leon said. He looked at Adam for a few seconds. "I'll see what I can do to get your story out. It might help."
Adam nodded. "Thanks," he said.
Leon pulled the headset off and jumped from the helicopter. "There is no problem," Leon yelled to the pilots and the guard. "You are free to go." He then turned and waved at the Algonquin hovering above. A moment later the aircraft climbed, turned and sped off. "Let's get out of here," Leon yelled to the rest of his men.
Thirty seconds later they were gone.
Okinawa had some beautiful golf courses. With its warm weather it attracted golfers all year round. On the island of Ie, to the west of Okinawa, was an eighteen-hole course thought to be the most difficult course in Japan. It was also the favourite course of Daisuke Sakamoto.
Daisuke was a member of Japan's Diet, and currently Domino's golf partner.
They were on the twelfth tee, a par five hole. Daisuke placed his golf-ball on a tee and set himself up. He was using a one wood. He made two practice swings then wound up and smashed the ball. The course had a very serious dog leg in it, beating par meant hitting through it.
Both Domino and Daisuke watched as his ball fell short of the fairway and landed in the rough. "Damn," he cursed softly.
"Too bad," Domino said as she walked up to the green.
"I'll get it yet," he told her.
Domino knelt down and placed her tee and the ball. She was dressed in walking shorts, a blouse, long socks, folded over at the knee and held in place with sock glue, a white blouse with a long sleeved shirt knotted around her shoulders. The two-tone tan and white golf shoes were the final addition. Domino did not care much for golf fashions, but 'when in Rome', as the saying went.
She took her two wood from the bag and set herself up for the shot. She could, quite easily, drive the ball through the dog leg and probably put it close to the green if not on it. She would not, however. Showing off was not something that went over well in Japan, and there was no way anyone one could make that shot. Anyone human at least.
She sliced the ball instead, letting the curve take it into the dog leg and setting herself up for a good attack on the green.
"Very nice," Daisuke said.
"I have my moments," Domino told him as she walked over to her golf bag and placed her driver into its place.
"Let's go," Daisuke said, putting his bag up on his shoulder and then starting off.
Domino grabbed her golf bag and followed after him. They did not use caddies. Daisuke liked walking and he liked carrying his own bag. Also he liked talking while golfing and the things he said were not for just anyone's ears.
"Interesting debates coming up in the Diet soon," Daisuke said after a minute.
"I suppose the ADP's new weapons will be talked about."
"Oh yes," Daisuke said.
"Well, Genom feels that the better equipped the ADP is, the better they can do their jobs and protect the city."
"An interesting stance. Somewhat of a change."
"Change is necessary in order to survive in the long run."
"Well, that being the case, there are some people who do not wish change."
"Oh? Who?"
"There are a few people in the Diet who will probably make the biggest noise about it. Nitsuta Kyouhei-san is something of a hawk. He wants the SDF to be handling boomers incidents in MegaTokyo."
"I suppose Nitsuta-san was upset at how quickly and competently the ADP handled the recent crisis."
"Nitsuta-san is a public servant, he'd never be upset about something like that."
"Of course," Domino smiled.
"Then there is Matsushima Yumie-san. She basically does not like the ADP."
"Yes, I know of Matsushima-san. She can be quite convincing when she sets her sights on something."
Daisuke nodded as he stepped into the rough to look for his ball. "And finally there is Takasato Yuuka. She is an interesting one."
"How so?" Domino asked as she walked towards Daisuke's ball. She had seen exactly where it went and had marked it with perfect accuracy.
"She is pro-boomer."
"Pardon?" Domino asked, stopping and looking back at him.
"She feels that the ADP is killing boomers and should not be allowed to do so. I suspect that she will be voted out by her constituents next election. I doubt they wanted their representative to be standing up for boomer rights."
"Interesting," Domino said. She turned and continued walking until she stood over Daisuke's ball. "Here it is," she called to him.
"Thanks," Daisuke said as he walked over to where Domino stood.
"You're going to use a wedge aren't you?"
Daisuke nodded. "I need to get the lift."
"Try mine."
Daisuke gave Domino and odd look, then walked over and took the wedge from her golf bag. As he was removing it he spotted a small, data-cylinder taped to the shaft of the club. He surreptitiously removed the cylinder, palming it as he examined the club. "It's a little too short for me," he told her, returning the club to its place.
He walked over to his golf bag and, after putting the cylinder into a small pocket on the inside of the bag, removed his wedge.
"I guess we'll just have to hope those three realise that it is best if the ADP remains well armed," Domino said with an innocent tone.
"Yes," Daisuke said as he moved to stand over his golf ball. He was not sure what impressed him more. That Domino knew who the problem members of the Diet were and had prepared the information on them in advance, or that she knew he was going to need a wedge.
He made his swing, sending his ball onto the fairway, but he did not like the way it lay. He'd be lucky to make par on the hole.
"Those are nice clubs you have," he said to Domino as they walked out of the rough. "I did not see a brand name."
"No, they are custom made. If you want I can give you the name and address of the shop."
"Yes, that would be very nice," he told her. He knew that he would not have to pay for the clubsone of the benefits of helping Genom out. He did not do it for the money or gifts though. He did it because Genom wanted Japan to be strong and the MegaCorp understood Japan in way few others could. They did not want Japan to change its culture.
It ensured Daisuke's loyalty.
Priss' place was still lacking in furniture, but she did not mind. Lying on the floor, her head on a pillow, listening to soft music from her stereo, that was good enough. When her phone rang she used her remote to mute the stereo then rolled over, noting a slight twinge of pain in her side, and grabbed the phone.
She flipped the phone open and brought it to her mouth. "Moshi, moshi, Asagiri desu(Hello, this is Asagiri)."
"Priss, good news," she heard David say.
"David?" Priss sat up. "What is it?"
"Gordon, my partner, he pulled some strings and talked to some old friends. We've got the money to go ahead." His voice was quite cheerful.
"What? Really? Well, when?"
"How soon can you be ready to go?"
Priss was about to say right away, but remembered the performances she still had to play at the Hard Rock. "I've got some commitments here right now. The soonest I could leave would be fifth of April."
"Okay, we can work with that. I'll arrange for airline tickets. I'll need to know what you are brining and what you will need here."
"I'll talk to the band and get you a list in a few hours."
"Right. I'm going to fax you some contracts to look over. You don't have to sign them; you'll sign the originals once you get here. I figured you'd like to know everything beforehand."
"Thanks."
"Listen Priss, I've got to run. We'll talk later."
"Right. I'll get the passports and everything together."
"Good, good. Later," he said then hung up.
Priss pressed the cut button on her phone and rolled back so her head was on the pillow. Things were looking up. She lifted the phone up and began dialling a number. She had a lot of calls to make and a lot of things to arrange.
Rei closed the door to Gillian's cell. She had spent her second day interrogating the other sexaroid, though the interrogation method she used was somewhat unique. She had simply spent three hours, sitting in the room, looking at Gillian and saying nothing.
She had done what Domino told her: Reveal nothing and watch to see what the other revealed. And Gillian had revealed quite a bit. She had swung from begging to threatening, had screamed and had cried. Rei had just watched, saying nothing, keeping her face blank.
It left the 33-S feeling a little guilty. She could guess what Gillian was feeling, and for Rei to just sit there, saying nothing, giving no answers, it would be difficult. She was also feeling a little guilty about the suspension coffin she was going to have put in the room later that night. Rei knew that the thought of being put back into suspension would be hard on Gillian.
Tomorrow she would start asking questions. She was fairly certain that by then Gillian would provide answers. She had already, unknowingly, provided some.
"McErie Rei-san," someone said from behind her.
Rei turned to see Manabe Takeo standing in the hall, looking at her.
"Odotte's new assistant, replacing one Sheffield Akiko."
"Yes," Rei said, looking the man over. Domino had given her a briefing on all the important people in Genom. Manabe was fairly high up, but recently he had lost prestige. Dangerous, but not terribly so.
"Do you know how Sheffield-san died?"
"In combat," Rei said.
"Something you should think about. Odotte-san is rather cavalier with the lives of her employees. Admittedly, she is rather cavalier with her own life."
"Do you have a point Takeo-san?" Rei asked, curious as to what he was trying to say.
"You are new here, and I've looked at your files. You are quite talented. I'd hate to see that talent wasted."
"I thank you for your concern," Rei told him. Domino had set up a false history for her. It might eventually come out that Rei was a 33-S, but it would take some time. "I'm sure that Odotte-sama will make sure that my talents are nurtured."
"Perhaps," he said, not sounding convinced. "McErie-san, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
Rei was a little surprised by the question, but hid it. "I'm not sure that would be wise," she told him.
"Do you think Odotte-san would disapprove?"
"Perhaps, but I'm not sure I want to have dinner with you Takeo-san."
"Well, why don't you have dinner with me, and then you can be sure."
Rei was becoming even more curious as to what Manabe was up to. There was one way to find out. "What time do you want to eat then, Takeo-san?"
Manabe smiled.
For several minutes the loud voice of chief Todo had rung out of his office as he had severely reprimanded Leon. Words like 'cowboy', 'loose cannon', 'hot head' and 'idiot' had been used, as well as many others.
When the yelling finally stopped there was a few seconds of silence, then a click of Leon opening the office door as he walked out. He looked a little frazzled, but when he saw a few people waiting outside of the office he gave them a smile and then slammed the door behind him.
"Sounded tough," Nene said from where she stood.
Leon shrugged his shoulders. "The USSD can't launch any sort of formal complaint, not without letting everyone know what they were up to. I get yelled at, but that's it."
"I got all that information you wanted," Nene said, dropping her voice. She held out a disk to Leon.
"Good." Leon took the disk. "Come on." He put a hand on Nene's shoulder and directed her away from the office. "I didn't thank you for your help in this. If you hadn't found out exactly when they were taking Schwarz out of the place, and how, this might not have worked."
"Just trying to be of help."
"If there is anything I can do to thank you, just let me know," Leon said, then smiled down at Nene. "Say a night of passion."
"How would that thank me?" she asked, looking up at Leon.
"You can be rather cruel for such a cute little package."
"Actually, there is something you can do for me."
"Name it," Leon said as they reached the elevator doors.
When Domino came back to Genom she found Haruko waiting for her in her office.
"What is it?" Domino asked as she placed her golf bag on the floor.
Haruko looked a little nervous, as if she was not sure what to say. "Security dropped by earlier."
"And?" Domino asked.
"They asked me to tell you that your parents were found dead in their home," Haruko said, then swallowed. "I'm sorry."
At first Domino had no idea what she was talking about, then realised what she was saying. The real Domino Odotte's parents. Interesting, she thought. "I see," Domino said, trying to get her voice right. Even if Domino Odotte had been estranged from her parents she would have cared if they were dead. "Did security leave a report?"
Haruko held out a disk.
Domino walked over and took it from her. "Thank you. Can you leave me alone."
Haruko nodded. "If you want to talk to anyone Odotte-san..."
"Thank you," Domino said, giving Haruko what she hoped looked liked a brave smile. She was going to have to work on her mourning skills.
Haruko nodded and then left the office, closing the door behind her.
Domino looked at the disk then circled around her desk and slid the disk into her computer.
As she had expected security's report was quite thorough and detailed. They did their job very well.
Ken and Junko Odotte had been found dead in their Calgary home. They had been killed, according to the postmortem, on the 26th of March, though they had been tortured for several hours before their deaths.
After three days friends had called the police, worried that they had not heard from the Odotte's for several days. The police had investigated and discovered the bodies.
"Very good," Domino said softly. Hit heras far as they were concernedparents to try to learn everything about her, and probably to make her mad. Well, she was not mad, but she would act as if she were. She smiled slightly. She had just been given an advantage by her enemies and they were not even aware of that.
She looked at the computer screen, at the picture there. Ken and Junko had been terribly hurt before they were killed. Domino knew enough about interrogation to know such things were unnecessary. It was a message to her, written on the bodies of two people who were basically innocent.
She would have to send flowers to the funeral service.
Nene walked over to the car that Mackie had told her Dr. Raven was working on. She looked about, wondering where he was. "Raven-hakase?" she called.
"Hai," Raven said, kicking out from under the car on the wheeled board he was lying on. He found himself staring up Nene's skirt.
Nene, hearing his voice from below her looked down. She screamed, jumping back.
Raven, blushing, said, "Sorry."
Nene also blushing simply nodded.
"Nene-san, what are you doing here?" he asked her, quickly bring up a safe subject.
Nene took a deep breath. "I want to buy a bike," she told him.
Raven got up from the floor. "A new scooter?"
"No," she shook her head. "A motorcycle."
"A motorcycle? Do you even have a license?"
Nene reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She held it out to Raven. "It's a temporary permit. I should get the permanent license in a week or two."
Raven took the paper and unfolded it. It was in fact a motorcycle license for bikes up to 1000cc engines. "How did you get this?"
Nene smiled. "A friend in the ADP has his instructor and examiner papers. He owed me a favour."
Raven shook his head as he handed the papers back to Nene. "I suppose you do actually know how to ride a motorcycle, though it might be a little different than what you are used to."
Nene nodded having already thought of that.
"So what kind of bike are you looking for?"
"Well, I was thinking of something like one of Priss-san's bikes."
Raven shook his head. "I'm sometimes not even sure that Priss-san should be riding the type of bike she rides."
"What do you suggest?"
"I'll show you what I have," he said, walking off towards a back room. Nene followed after him.
In the room were a number of motorcycles, all on their centre stands, about half covered with dust sheets.
"Some of these are brand new, the '34 models, a few '33s as well. The rest are all used, but the engines have been completely rebuilt and they are all in good condition."
"I think I want something new."
He nodded and looked about, then pulled the cover off one of the bikes revealing a white and red bike with the lines of a racer. "It's a 500cc Honda F4. More than enough for a beginner's bike."
Nene nodded as she walked over to the bike, laying her hand on the accelerator. "It looks nice," she said.
Raven nodded. "It handles well, too well some have said."
"Too well?"
"Some like the handling to be a little eccentric. More exciting that way."
"I could do without that sort of excitement."
"That's probably the best bike I have for you."
Nene moved her hand across the bike, tracing her fingers along the gas tank and then across the seat. "I'll take it."
"That was pretty fast."
"I did some research on bikes before I came here. This was one of the ones that came highly recommended."
Raven smiled. "Well, let's get the sales papers written up." He turned and started towards his office.
Nene followed after him.
April 1st, Saturday, 2:34pm
The Tower, while never quiet was not as busy as it was on weekdays. While a number of employees had come in during the morning to finish up various projects and assignments, most had left before lunch.
The senior executives worked under a different set of rules, however.
In a small, secure meeting room Domino, Katherine and Marino had gathered for a private meeting. The three of them each represented a substantial piece of Genom's power. Together the three women knew they could accomplish much.
"I'd like to ask you about Manabe Shoji," Katherine said near the end of the meeting.
"What about him," Domino asked, keeping her tone innocent.
"Why is he still alive?"
"Because I want him alive," Domino told her.
"Yet you sent two hit teams after him," she countered.
"Neither of those two teams were up to capturing Manabe-san," Marino said. "They were picked specially for that."
Katherine looked between Domino and Marino. There was something between them, Domino had had the new-comer's loyalty. She would have had liked it herself but she gained it, to an extent, by allying with Domino. It was a very interesting situation. "So you are playing him," she said.
"Yes," Domino nodded. "He hates me, hates Genom to an extent, and has had contact with those threatening Genom."
"Why does he hate you?" Katherine was curious about that. From what she knew of Shoji Manabe he was a level headed operative.
"He thinks I killed his wife," Domino told her.
"Did you?" Marino asked.
Domino turned to look at her. "Misawa-san, it does not matter if I did or did not, all that matters is that he thinks I did."
Marino dropped her eyes ever so slightly. "Of course. I'm sorry Odotte-san."
Katherine took note of that, wondering what it might mean. "I'm disturbed," she told them. "Manabe Shoji knows a lot about Genom and how we operate."
"Yes," Domino nodded. "Almost as much as he thinks he does, but that is rapidly changing."
"He is still a security threat."
"And he will be dealt with, when he is not longer useful. He did arrange the attempt to kill me after all. That sort of thing cannot go unanswered."
"So you know where he is?" Katherine asked.
"Yes. We are not watching him too closely right now out of fear of scaring away the real target, but he is being watched."
Katherine thought about it for a time then nodded. "I'll leave this in you hands then. For now."
Domino smiled at that. "Of course Madigan-san.
There were of course other meetings going on within the Tower. There always were. Two floors down from where Domino and the others were meeting a similar gathering was taking place.
Kenji Sousuke and Samantha Johnson, being two of the older members of the core executives, had been working together from some time. Manabe Takeo was a new member of their group.
Kenji and Samantha had decided to bring him in because he was young, and skilled, and more importantly because his recent embarrassment had broken some of his rough edges off. He had been ready to see that he needed help.
"Do you have any idea why the woman you sponsored has given her loyalties to Odotte?" Samantha asked Kenji. She had been working up to the point since the meeting began several minutes earlier.
Kenji said nothing for several seconds, then shook his head. "I don't know. I was certain that Misawa-san would join us."
"Damn," Manabe said. "Acquisitions, Dirty Tricks and Security all working together. Those three have an insurmountable power base."
"That is true," Kenji said. "The three of them together will be able to make things happen."
"Odotte has already made things happen." Manabe got to his feet. "We have to do something about that. We cannot let the ADP have the power that has been given to them."
"Yes we can," Samantha said. "We have to it seems. The Chairman has given her his support in this. Or at least he has not contradicted her which amounts to something similar."
Manabe sat heavily. "Why does she have Quincy-shachou's support? That is what I want to know. Is she his mistress?"
"Quincy-shachou would not be swayed by something so unimportant. Even if he was sexually involved with her he would not let that cloud his judgement." Kenji had known Quincy for some time and was certain of his assessment and his tone reflected that.
"And while Odotte certainly has the necessary attributes for playing such pillow games, and may very well do so, she is formidable in other ways," Samantha said as if she was not quite pleased to admit it.
"Then what do we do?" Manabe asked.
"She raised the bar, so we have to match it. There is no other choice," Samantha told him.
"Can't we just pull the bar back down?"
Kenji shook his head. "That cannot be done, not unless the right circumstance arises and you can take advantage of it, like Odotte has done. And to try to operate under the bar is to court disaster."
"Those who cannot rise to the new expectations will be removed from Genom, or should retire now before they get in trouble. In the end Genom will be stronger. That is of great value," Samantha said.
"Yes, and it will be Odotte who wields that power," Manabe's tone was obviously bitter.
"Perhaps." Samantha picked up her teacup. "We must of course remember that we are all working to make Genom stronger. Odotte-san is just doing what we all wish to be done. To move against her is to bring Quincy-shachou's anger down on us."
"She might not always be in the Chairman's favour though," Kenji said speculatively.
"Yes." Samantha finished her tea.
"What if she is?" Manabe asked.
"No one is that good," Kenji told him, dismissing his concern.
"No one has been that good yet," Samantha said. "Perhaps that is about to change."
Kenji frowned at that.
"Well, I have started something that may be of value to us," Manabe told them.
Samantha looked at the young man for a moment. "If you are planning on going up against Odotte-san I suggest you be very careful. There is more there than we think. I believe she still has the capacity to surprise us."
"Perhaps we will surprise her instead." Manabe smiled. It had something of the shark in it.
"Do you know Takeo Manabe-san took me on a date last night," Rei said to Domino.
Domino did not look up from the paperwork on her desk. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Oh yes," Rei said. "It is very nice to be with a man who wants to have sex with a woman."
"Not quite what I was asking about, but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"He is trying to turn me against you."
"Really?" Domino looked up from her work. "Has he succeeded?"
Rei shook her head. "He is being very subtle about it."
"How so?"
"He's told me that you've put a number of your employees in a great deal of danger."
"Yes, I have."
"He is suggesting that he would hate to see me get hurt, which is what might happen if I continue to work for you. Not in so many words of course, but that was the point he was getting at."
"Manabe was always a good student," Domino said softly, as if she was thinking out loud.
"Student of what?" Rei asked.
"A student of games such as these. He does not have much respect for you."
"No," Rei shook his head. "Or he thinks too much of himself. He is good, but I could see through him."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Whatever you want. If you wish to continue your relationship him, do so. Perhaps you may learn something of value."
"Aren't you concerned that I may actually betray you?"
Domino shook her head and then turned back to her work.
"How is it you can be so confident?" Rei asked after a time.
"Because I make it my business to be confident," Domino told her. "If you always appear confident you can lead your people into disaster and still have a chance to succeed." Domino looked up from her work again. "And while I may send you to your death one day, I'll be truthful about it, and that sort of respect is valuable to you. It is valuable to everyone."
Rei nodded and reached for some of the paperwork. "So, what do we do now?"
"Wait, prepare and do our job."
April 5th, Wednesday, 7:46am
It was Nene's last day of work so she had come in early. Had she been thinking clearly she might have realised what that would mean. Over the last few days she had been busy with shutting down illegal boomer recycling operations, dealing with the USSD, and just getting things put together so Leon's office would still run once she left.
She planned to get the last of her work done so everything was in order when she left that evening. There would probably be a goodbye dinner, but that was a far off thought. It was only when she opened her locker and found the seifuku waiting for her that she realised that the day was not going to be normal.
"Told you I'd do it," Naoko said, stepping out from behind a line of lockers.
Nene looked over at her. "I take it I cannot expect a quiet day of peaceful work?"
Naoko shook her head. "We can't let your last day be one with dignity can we." Naoko smiled mischievously. "It's not like you kept a lot of dignity in the past."
Nene took a brush from her locker and lobbed it at Naoko. She easily stepped out of the way, which was what Nene intended. "Play nice," Naoko admonished Nene.
"Shut up," Nene said as she began undressing.
"So this is your last day." Naoko picked up the hairbrush.
"Yes," Nene said. Now that it was out in the open she was feeling it. "I'm going to miss this place."
"Even me?" Naoko said playfully.
Nene thought about it.
"Hey!" Naoko said.
"Yes," Nene said, smiling at Naoko. "I am going to miss you." She looked at the school uniform in her locker. "I can't wear this."
"Leon said it was all right."
"It must have a real short skirt then," Nene said, pulling the uniform from the locker. It was a fairly standard uniform. Pleated blue skirt, white blouse, and a grey blazer. Unlike most school blazers the one Nene held had ADP shoulder flashes sewn onto it and sergeant pins on the collar.
"Just put it on," Naoko said. "Remember, you promised to take all this with good grace."
Nene laughed as she continued undressing. She then put on the uniform, which fit very well. Naoko used the brush that Nene had thrown at her to comb out Nene's hair then put it in a ponytail.
"You do look like a girl who is graduating from high school," Naoko said once she was finished.
Nene nodded as she looked into the mirror. "Maybe you should put on one of these uniforms and see how you look."
"No way," Naoko said. "I don't want to attract all the pervy guys who want high school girls."
"I never thought about it that way. It might be a good way to get dates." Nene shifted into a cute pose in front of the mirror.
"It will probably work on Leon."
"What wouldn't work on Leon-chan?"
Naoko and Nene looked at each other and began to giggle.
Priss rifled through the duffel bag once more to be sure that everything was there and then zipped it shut. She grabbed the bag's handles and slung it over her shoulder. She then picked up her guitar case and left her bedroom.
As she moved through the living quarters she did a quick visual check to make sure that she had taken care of everything. Nothing left on, nothing left out, nothing to worry about. She left the living space and locked the door behind her and then turned on the alarm system. A moment later she was walking down the stairs.
Soon an airport taxi would be coming by to take her to the airport, but there was still time. Priss put her duffel bag and guitar case down by her car then went to make sure everything in the recording studio was ready to go. She had given Minako Shimizu the keys to the main door and the studio so she could come in and make some recordings of her band. She was not paying Priss a lot, but Priss felt like being generous.
Satisfied that Minako would find everything she needed Priss closed and locked the door and then walked back to her luggage. The taxi still had not come.
She looked down at her car, noting that the hood was dimpled. No surprise really. Priss circled to the driver's door, fished her keys from her jacket pocket, and then opened it. She popped the hood and then moved in front of the car. She triggered the hood release and opened it. Slapping her hand against the underside popped the slight dent out.
Priss slammed the hood closed and went to lock the car's door.
She and Miako had gone out the night before, a sort of celebration for her trip to Scotland and the recording deal. Priss had let Miako drive, and Miako had taken advantage of the powerful engine. She had basically driven like a maniac. Albeit a skilled one.
Afterwards they had come back to the factory and ended up making love on the hood of the Cobra. Well, making love was not really the right word. Fucking and sucking and fingering and licking and fisting and, well, a lot of stuff that really did not fit the concept of making love. Raw sex that had left Priss feeling a little abused. No doubt Miako was feeling it as well, but she had been stoned before, during and after.
She just did not know why she was with Miako, other than she was. It was probably like Miako told her. They shared enough of a past, but not too much of one. They fit well together, even though there was very little emotion involved in the relationship. Well, it was something to think about later, after she got back from Scotland.
A short time later the taxi arrived.
Priss found Takeshi and Norio in the first class lounge at Narita. By the looks of things they had decided to take advantage of the free alcohol. It was not that they were drunk, but they were looking rather relaxed. Norio, like Priss, was carrying his guitar case. Takeshi had not brought his entire drum kit, just a few pieces that he liked to have. He had obviously checked those, as his carryon bag was too small to be holding even those.
"Ready to go?" Priss asked as she took a seat across from them.
"Yeah," Takeshi said, smiling.
"I wish they could have come here," Norio said, picking up his beer bottle. "I hate flying."
"You could be in the wrong business," Priss told him.
Norio took a long drink from the bottle. "I'll deal with it."
"Good," Priss said, then got up to walk to the self-serve bar. She poured herself a large glass of orange juice and grabbed a bagel from a basket of fresh baked goods.
"So why are we heading out to Scotland?" Norio asked when Priss got back.
"According to David the guy he is working with wants us to come to him. David says he has his own studio and he likes to work there."
"At least we get a trip out of it. That's a pretty good deal. Free vacation sort of."
"Not really free," Priss told him as she ripped the bagel in half.
"What's that mean?" Takeshi asked.
"We give up a small percentage of our cut on royalty fees until this is all paid for. It is a very small percentage, and we are not responsible if sales never hit the place where they get their money back."
"They'll get their money back," Norio said with a great deal of confidence.
"I hope so," Priss told him, then took a bite from her bagel.
A few minutes later Yuuko showed, carrying her bass case with her.
"Cutting it a little close," Priss said to Yuuko as she took a seat with the rest of them. "We should be boarding in five or ten minutes."
"I was saying goodbye to Leon," Yuuko said, smiling.
"Long, tearful goodbye?" Takeshi asked.
"Something like that. It is what happens when you are dating someone."
"Ouch." Takeshi smiled at her.
"So Yuuko and McNichol are getting all sweaty over each other, it's not like we care," Norio said.
"Speak for yourself," Takeshi said. "Getting sweaty with someone sounds like a good time to me."
Priss picked up her orange juice and finished drinking it. Then she stood and put the glass down before picking up her guitar case. "I'm going to head down to the boarding area."
"What, and not take advantage of all this?" Norio asked, indicating the lounge with a freshly opened beer bottle.
"Air travel and excessive alcohol are a bad mix," Priss told him as she turned and walked from them. "Plus there will be plenty of booze and other things on the plane itself."
"I'm hungry now," Yuuko said as she got up. "I'll see you on the plane I guess."
Priss nodded and headed towards the lounge's exit. She was not upset that the rest of the band was not coming with her. In fact her real reason for leaving was to get some privacy. She stood on the concrete steps between floors, looking out the windows at the landing field and the planes there. "I'm leaving on a jet plane," Priss sang softly.
Of course it was not really true. She was leaving on a supersonic, sub-orbital, different enough from a jet plane. And she knew when she was going to back, roughly. It was a nice song though.
She wondered what was going to happen in the near future. David told her that it would take a few months before any album they released began to pick up speed. He would start everything in England, wait for the sales numbers to build up and then cut the deals to get it distributed in North America. If things took off there, then everything was set.
He made it sound so easy, but Priss did not think it would be. She did not think David was lying to her, she just did not see it being that easy, not with everything she had gone through in her past. That things could be easy did not seem to be something that applied to her.
She was still staring out at the planes when the boarding announcement chimed over the public address system. "Flight VA-158 is boarding passengers who require aid in boarding. Please move to the gate." It repeated twice in Japanese and English.
Priss picked up her guitar case and started down the steps. Next they would be boarding the first class passengers.
David had put them on Virgin Airlines. Takeshi and Norio had made a few tasteless jokes about that, asking whether Yuuko and herself should be on that airline. They had thought it was funny. It had left Priss wondering if she should form an all girl band.
As she was approaching the boarding gate the announcement was made that the first class passengers could board. Priss pulled her boarding pass from her jacket and had it ready at the check in desk.
As she entered plane she wondered what a sub-orbital flight would be like. She had flown in standard jets a few timesonce in a while the Replicants had been booked in other parts of Japanbut this was the first time she would be leaving Japan. It was a little exciting, even as she tried to act as if she did not care.
Priss put her guitar case into the overhead bin then sat down in the large, comfortable seat. A stewardess, human, the boomers were working coach, came up and offered her a drink before take off. Priss asked for water.
The other members of the band arrived shortly after, taking their seats.
"I've never flown in a sub-orbital before," Yuuko said. "I hear we almost hit space."
"Close," Takeshi said. "Sort of just on the boundary between space and Earth's outer atmosphere."
"How fast will we be going?" Yuuko asked him.
"Almost thirty thousand kilometres an hour, I think it is something like Mach 25."
"Wow."
"You got to wonder if that is safe," Norio said.
"Worried?" Priss asked.
"A little. Why do you think I was drinking?"
Priss smiled. "Because you're an alcoholic."
"I wish," Norio leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
Not long afterwards the plane began to taxi down the runway. The sub-orbital, a Boeing Clipper, was a rather beautiful plane, similar in design to the old Concords. The Clipper's wings were variable geometry, allowing the pilots to alter the configuration to achieve optimum performance.
On take off they were fully extended for maximum lift. The plane took off at low speeds in order to keep the noise down. Something the people who had to live around the Narita Airport appreciated.
The plane flew out over the ocean at only a fraction of is top speed. During that time the two, first class stewardesses offered drinks, snacks and motion sickness pills to any passenger who wanted them. Norio took them up on the pills and the drinks. Fortunately the pills were made so as to not to cause any adverse reactions when mixed with alcohol, except for drowsiness-which is what Norio wanted anyway.
Once the plane was out over the ocean the pilot brought the SCRAMjets-S(upersonic) C(ombustion) RAMjet-up and the plane began to rapidly climb to an altitude of 23 kilometres. It was not for the faint of heart or anyone with a heart condition for the matter.
The trip from Tokyo to Edinburgh took just a little over three hours and when they landed it was 8:40am, Wednesday morning.
They passed through customs without any real difficulty, though the language barrier did cause some minor confusion. Priss, who had always thought she had a firm handle on English, found the Scottish accent more than a little difficult to figure out.
David was waiting for them just outside of the arrival gate.
"Priss," he called out.
"David," Priss said, moving towards him, though the crowd. "Nice to see a familiar face here."
"That's why I showed up." He looked towards the rest of the band. "Norio, Takeshi, hisashiburi desu ne(long time no see)," he said, switching to Japanese.
Priss introduced David to Yuuko. Once the basics had been taken care of David led them from the airport. Outside was an airport limousine that took then to a nearby heliport.
They were continuing on to a place called Aberfeldy, near Loch Tay, where they would continue by car. Helicopter gave them the fastest and easiest journey there. No one complained. Norio's fear of flying did not seem to extend to helicopters.
"Gordon is really looking forward to meeting you," David told Priss as the helicopter began to ascend. "I think this is going to work out very well."
Priss nodded. "It would be nice if it did."
David smiled. "Trust me."
The funny thing was that Priss did.
"Sympathy is the Most Splendid of All Qualities Sympathy is the most splendid of all qualities. This is especially true when it is found in men, but it also applies to women. Compassionate remarks of the type 'How sad for you!' to someone who has suffered a misfortune or 'I can imagine what he must be feeling' about a man who has had some sorrow, are bound to give pleasure, however casual and perfunctory they may be. If one's remark is addressed to someone else and repeated to the sufferer, it is even more effective than if one makes it directly. The unhappy person will never forget one's kindness and will be anxious to let one know how it has moved him"
-Sei Shonagon
