Bubble Gum Crisis
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 (4 of 10)
by Shawn Hagen(2000;2005)

Based on situations and characters created by Suzuki Toshimichi.

April 10th, Monday, 9:51am, MegaTokyo

Sylia sat in her office, staring out the window, tapping her pen on the desktop in time to some slow song playing on the radio. She was thinking about Shuuji's retirement, and his replacement and a number of other things.

She picked up the piece of paper she had been writing on during her last meeting with Shuji. The line across it was deep and dark, cutting the paper in half from top left corner to bottom right. While the pencil line obscured some of the information, it was still readable. Ideas to improve on her father's basic design. Quite advanced as far as she knew.

The problem was what was she to do with them? Work for Genom? Try to compete against Genom. Neither one seemed like a very good option. She was not even sure she could compete against them. Genom owned many of the rights to her father's work.

She carefully folded the piece of paper in half and then turned her chair so she was facing one of her filing cabinets. It was unlocked with her thumbprint; she pulled open the middle drawer and slid the paper between two of the files. Perhaps she would find a way to make use of the information in the future. At the point it was just something she did not need.

She closed the drawer then turned her chair back to her desk and the reports she had received over the past few days.

Genom was doing something. They had a number of their better teams out in the field. There had been news of deaths and the destruction of properties. A very quiet war was being waged. Sylia was not sure against whom though. All she could do was wait and hope that the answers would come.


Linna had decided that she needed to speak with someone about what had happened with Devon. Just to say the words and get them out in the open. After giving it some thought she had chosen who she thought was likely to be the best person.

"Kicuchi-sensei," Linna said as she moved to stand near where Andrea was sitting. It was their lunch break and most of the other dancers were resting.

"Yes Yamazaki-san?"

"I was wondering if you could tell me about Okami-san."

"Okami-san is a very private person. I don't think it would be right for me to tell you anything."

Linna thought about it for a moment. "I understand, but, well..." She did not know how to say it.

"You had a relationship with him and now it is over, by your own choice."

Linna nodded.

"Sit down Yamazaki-san," Andrea indicated the empty seat beside her.

Linna sat down. "How did you know what happened?"

"Devon is a charming man, and he has a thing for dancers. You are not the first that this has happened to."

"I thought as much. How did you meet him?"

"Much in the same way you did. I probably had much the same relationship that you did, but it took me much longer to realise that there was nothing there for me. Years later, when I started this dance troupe, he showed up again. As I said, he likes dancers. At least he has always been generous with his donations." She looked at Linna. "Tell me Yamazaki-san, do you think I should have informed you as to what might happen with Devon?"

Linna thought about that for a moment then shook her head. "No. I think it was my choice, and he was honest about things from the start."

"He does have that going for him. He never lies to you."

"That makes it worse. It makes it easy to respect him, to come to care for him."

"I know. It hurts now, but that will fade soon, I think."

"I've not had much luck in relationships in the past," Linna admitted.

"Who hasn't?" Andrea said with a smile.

Linna smiled. "That makes me feel a lot better actually."

"I'm glad I could help. As bad relations go, one with Devon-san is probably the best."

"Thank you," Linna said.

"You're welcome." Linna got up to leave.

"Yamazaki-san."

"Yes?" Linna looked towards Andrea.

"Tighten up your timing in the second act or I might be forced to replace you."

"Hai sensei."


It was Nene's first day at Genom Daigaku(University), though the first two weeks were based around orientation so there were very few formal classes. Nene had spent the first half of her first day wandering around, finding out where all her classrooms were.

The majority of the university's classrooms, labs and offices were located on the floors of the many buildings that surrounded the Tower. Gendai also had a central campus as well, a large area, in some of the most expensive land in MegaTokyo. It was certainly not the most profitable way to use the space, but there was a certain prestige factor to it.

Most of Nene's classes were in one of the glass towers, which meant she would not be running around a lot as she moved between classes. Two of her advanced computer technology courses were held in the main campus, but that was close enough that Nene knew getting there would not be too difficult.

Satisfied that she knew where everything was, at least in respect to her class schedule, Nene went to find a cafeteria. There were several to choose from so Nene just went to the closest. She would surely get a chance to visit them all long before the orientation period was up.

It was a fairly standard cafeteria. Nene picked her food from the racks, placing it on her tray, and then paid for it at the end of the counter. She used a debit card she had received on the previous Saturday during registration. She had been told that Genom would offer her a full scholarship, and that included food. It also included housing if necessary. Nene had decided to remain with her parents, but the next school year she might give housing some thought.

She had found a table and was beginning on her salad when Mei took a seat across from her. "Good afternoon Senpai," she said with bubbly enthusiasm.

"Good afternoon Mei-san." Nene wondered if the younger woman was stalking her.

"This is a great school. They have everything. Have you seen the computer labs?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure they are nice."

"Nice? They are great." Mei looked around to make sure no one was close. "With the sort of power we have we could have a lot of fun, ne Senpai."

Nene sighed. "Mei-san, you cannot hack from one of Genom's computers. They are all linked into a central unit that watches for that sort of thing."

"They are?"

Nene nodded as she picked up her cup of green tea.

Mei thought about that for a few seconds then asked, "How do you know that Senpai?"

Nene coughed in surprise and spat out some of her tea. She grabbed a paper serviette and wiped her mouth and chin. "Pardon?" Nene asked, hoping that Mei might not ask the same question.

"How do you know about the way the computers are hooked up here? I was playing around with them and did not see anything like that."

It was Nene's turn to look around to make sure no one was listening. "It is something that you are more likely to catch if you look at it from the outside in."

Mei's eyes widened slightly. "Wow. Senpai you're really great," she said.

"I was just lucky," Nene told her, deciding that Mei should not be trying to break into Genom's systems. "I was lucky and just sort of stumbled into it." That was a fairly large lie on her part.

Mei nodded. "So if I want to continue with the club's mandate I should do it from my own place right?"

"Where are you staying?"

"You don't know? I'm at one of the dormitory buildings on the outskirts of Shinjuku. I've got three roommates in the apartment suite. One's a senior, the other a junior and another freshman like me."

"And what sort of hook up do you have there?"

"Well, a Genom server of course," she said, then paused. "Oh, I see."

Nene nodded. "If you are going to keep up that sort of anti-social behaviour you are going to have to work out the hook up yourself."

"Hai Senpai," Mei said, nodding happily.

"What are you going to do next?" Nene asked, picking up her rice bowl.

"I don't know. I'm just going to look around. What about you."

"I think I'll go and price textbooks," Nene said before putting some of the rice into her mouth.

"That sounds like a good idea."

Nene might have sighed if not for the fact she was swallowing the rice. When was Mei going to recognise the value of men? She hoped it was soon.


April 11th, Tuesday, 8:31am

The plane had touched down in Narita a little after eight, one of the firsts of the day. It had not been a full flight so Priss and the others had been able to move quickly to passport control, and then down to claim their luggage.

Norio had spent some extra time in customs as he had brought several bottles of whisky with him and he had to pay duty on some of them.

Finally all four of them stood in the arrival area, off to the side.

"What do we do now?" Takeshi asked.

"Get some rest," Priss told him. "I'll get in touch with Kano-san and see about getting us booked back at the Hard Rock. I figure I'll shoot for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."

Yuuko yawned. "Good, I could use the rest."

"Maybe we'll be able to go bigger than the Hard Rock soon," Norio said as he rearranged the whisky bottles in his carryon bag.

"Maybe," Priss said. "But I think we'll be playing in places just like it for a time if we tour."

"No fifty thousand seat stadiums for us?" Yuuko asked.

"Give me a little time," Priss told her, smiling. She reached down to grasp her duffel bag. "I'll talk to you soon." She hefted the bag up and put the carrying strap over her shoulder. "Later," she said as she picked up her guitar case. She then turned and walked off.

The other three gathered up their things and went off in separate directions.


When Priss got back to her place she found a note taped to the door to her living space. She tore it free and opened it up. It was from Minako Shimizu, thanking Priss for letting her and her band have the time in the recording studio.

Priss folded the paper up and shoved it into her pocket and then removed her keys. She deactivated the alarm system first, then unlocked the door. Things were as she had left them, not that Priss had expected otherwise. She tossed her duffel bag up onto the floor, then placed her guitar case down before removing her shoes. She stepped up out of the genkan, slid her feet into a pair of slippers and then walked to her kitchen.

Inside her fridge she found a can of milk coffee. Just what she needed, Priss thought, taking the can out and opening it. She gulped the coffee down then tossed the empty can into the sink. She wanted to take a shower and then get a few hours sleep, but first she had to check messages, look into a few things and make sure there was nothing pressing she had to take care of.

She hated having to be responsible.


Sylia watched as the cars passed below, she zoomed in on one of the cars, one of the new '34 Mazda full sized sedans. She was thinking of purchasing one for herself. The lines on the car pleased her, and the engine was designed to power a large number of peripheral devices. It would make a very nice platform for a surveillance and communication vehicle.

Something moved into her field of vision, blocking her view.

Sylia looked up at Fargo who stood just in front of the telescope she was using.

"Good afternoon," he said.

"The Tokyo Tower?" Sylia asked.

"I like it," he told her, looking about the observation deck. "It offers a nice view of the city and it looks just like the Eiffel Tower."

Sylia released her hold on the telescope. "What did you call me here for?"

"I have some information that might interest you," he said as he leaned back against the window. "Someone has put out some feelers, whoever he, she or they are, they are offering a lot of money."

"For what?"

Fargo made sure that the trembler in his jacket pocket was up against the glass then removed a white noise generator from his pocket. "Assassination," he said after he had activated the device.

"I don't do that."

"I know." He nodded. "No one has come to me directly yet, and if they had I wouldn't bring this to you, but for now its is just gossip you might be interested in."

Sylia nodded. Fargo had his own code of morals that he would not break. "It involves Genom I assume."

"They want one of the Executives killed, and if possible some general monkey-wrenching."

"Who is the executive?"

"Her name is Odotte. She's a fairly recent player in the games. Seems to be doing a very good job. Probably why someone wants her killed."

"Can you keep me informed about this?"

Fargo nodded. "You're hiring me, right?"

"If that is what it takes."

Fargo nodded as he turned the white noise generator off and returned it to his pocket. "Sayonara," he said as he pushed himself off the glass and began walking away.

Sylia remained where she was, looking out the windows, over the city. Attacking Genom directly was a dangerous move; the MegaCorp dealt with such things harshly. Or maybe it was a desperate move? She was going to have to watch things closely.


April 11th, Tuesday, 4:36am, Canada, Near Lake Nipissing

The hunting lodge was located in the woods of Northern Ontario, its nearest neighbour more than an hour away on muddy roads covered in patches of snow and ice. On the lodge's cleared driveway were several cars, most covered by the previous night's snow. One, a large jeep, was not.

Walking the perimeter were several men and women in heavy coats.

Inside, Yoshito and Robert sat on a couch, across from the woman who had called them there. Michelle Danielson. She had altered her look somewhat since New York. Her bald head was marked with a dragon tattoo that circled her skull, the dragon's head was drawn on her right cheek, just below her eye. There were other tattoos, and well as body piercings, but they were hidden by the catsuit she wore.

Yoshito had not changed much since the job in MegaTokyo but Robert had lost his right arm during a mission in Laos. The prosthetic was obvious; in fact, Robert rolled his sleeves up whenever he could just to show it off.

There were three other people in the room, two of them obvious bodyguards, one a young, pretty woman. Yoshito ignored them. Robert did not.

"I don't trust you," Yoshito told the woman across from him.

"I don't blame you," Michelle told him. "But while your former employer and I were associates, I don't work like him." She took a sip of an amber liquid in a tumbler, watching Yoshito over the rim of the glass.

"So you say."

"What can I do to assure you?"

"I want everything spelled out in advance. I want it known that if anything changes, anything at all. If I don't like it I scrub and you only get half the fee refunded."

"Quite the set of demands." She looked at him icily.

"You don't like it, go somewhere else." Yoshito leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I would if I thought anyone else had a chance."

"We're not so great."

"This mission plays more on your strong points."

"Give me the straight story, exactly what is going to happen."

"There is an arms shipment leaving from Los Angeles in eight days. It is all being shipped by rail. The guard is fairly light. Secrecy is their primary defence. I want your team to steal it."

"Eight days is short notice."

"We only recently found out about this ourselves."

"How light is this guard?"

"About fifty men, special forces."

"Holy shit," Robert said. He turned to look over at one of the bodyguards. "How much does your job pay? Any openings?"

The woman he addressed said nothing.

"Shut up Robert," Yoshito said. "Fifty Special Forces? That's possible, but costly. What else?"

"About twenty other people of no consequence."

"What are the arms it is carrying?"

"I don't see how that is any of your concern."

"Good bye Mrs. Danielson," he said as he got to his feet.

"I'll provide you with a list of what is being shipped," she said quickly.

Robert turned to look at her. There were small signs of stress on her face. She was wound tight, a little desperate, or maybe a lot and just very good at hiding it.

"Now."

She sighed. "Just a moment then. Randal, please get the file from Edward."

One of the bodyguards nodded and left to room.

Yoshito took his seat again. "How much?"

"Your standard fee is ten million is it not?"

"Yes."

"Then I think we have a price."

He nodded and then after a moment said, "Forty million."

Michelle lost her composure as she stared at him, trying to find words. For a few seconds all she could manage were several upset sounds. "Ridiculous," she finally got out.

"I don't like you Mrs. Danielson. I don't like the way that you and your associates do business. I don't like the fact that one of my people was left, hung out to dry. I want forty because that is what it will take for me to work with someone I don't like. Accept it or I go."

"I'll go as high as twenty."

"And I want forty."

"Twenty five."

"Forty five."

"What?"

"This haggling is pissing me off."

Michelle let out a deep breath as she forced herself to relax. "All right, forty million."

"Agreed, if I choose to take the mission after I see what we are after."

"You are treading on dangerous ground," she warned, leaning forward slightly. With her lens, covered eyes and the tattoo on her head she looked rather menacing.

Yoshito only smiled.

After several minutes Randal returned with a file which he gave to Michelle. Michelle passed it to Yoshito. Yoshito opened it up and began to flip through the pages.

"I see," he said, putting the file down. "This is within our abilities to do."

"Good," Michelle smiled.

"Then let's conclude this," Yoshito said. He moved forward suddenly, grabbing Michelle, putting his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming out. Her bodyguards and the young woman went for their weapons.

There were several soft sounds, like a cough. Randal went over, two holes in his forehead. Robert shifted his aim and took out the woman. The small .22 in his arm was the perfect assassin's weapon. He shifted his aim to the young woman who had moved very quickly, already her pistol was out, but Robert was just a little faster. He hit her with a tight grouping of .22 rounds, keeping up his fire, just in case.

He had been warned that the woman was a boomer and could be a threat.

"Clear," Robert said a moment later, once he was sure that Cassandra was going to stay down. He was smiling. Yoshito looked at him for a moment, a little worried about the man.

"Okay, call in Lenore and let's get this place cleaned up and the job done." He looked down at Michelle. "I am sorry Mrs. Danielson, I am currently employed by another party and as such cannot take your job offer. I do apologise."

Michelle tried to scream, tried to struggle free, but Yoshito held her down.


The lodge was burning, a hot, intense fire, helped along by some incendiary devices. Yoshito was not interested in subtlety. He did not care that it would not appear to be an accident. That was unimportant.

He looked over at Michelle, bundled tightly up, under the loving care of their doctor. That woman would not be dying on him; she was worth too much alive. Everyone else who had been with her, except the 33-S, was burning. Their bodies were adding fuel to the fire. They'd need dental records to ID the bodies when it was all done.

The 33-S was lying on the ground, legs folded up over chest, bound up in cargo straps. The boomer was very much deactivated, Robert had put three 9mm rounds into its head, just to be sure. Yoshito had thought it somewhat excessive, but everything about Robert had become excessive since Laos.

He looked at the lodge, closing his eyes slightly against the light of the blaze. Genom had arranged for a body to take Michelle's place, and had assured him that dental and other records had been altered to ensure that it would be identified as Michelle Danielson. It ensured that her associates thought her dead.

That was what Genom had wanted.

"Okay Robert, let's get the hell out of here," he said, turning his back on the fire. "Load that up," he said to one of his other men, pointing at the 33-S lying on the ground. It was time to go.


April 11th, Tuesday, 9:11pm, MegaTokyo

Katherine stood in front of Quincy's desk, waiting as he read through the file she had brought to him. Yoshito had sent her the information as soon as he finished things up. Michelle Danielson was on her way to the Tower right now, under a suicide watch. Putting the mercenary company on retainer had been expensive, but ultimately beneficial.

"Show this to Odotte-kun," he told her as he dropped the file onto his desk. "Then tell her to come and see me. After that, ensure that Danielson-san is brought here safely without any incidents."

"Shall I arrange her interrogation?"

"No."

"Hai, I understand."

Quincy turned his back to her, shifting the chair around so he could look out at the city. Katherine took that as dismissal and retrieved the file. She bowed before walking to the doors and bowed again before she left.

Quincy looked out over the city, his city. He had watched, with some interest, as these people played their game. He had given them time to show if they could be useful: Outside threats could be of benefit to Genom. These people had moved to the point where the threat they represented far outweighed any benefit they might bring. It was time they were destroyedcompletely.


Domino was working in her office. Such late hours had become something standard for her over the last few weeks. There was so much work to do, both relating to Corporate Acquisitions and the recent threats that Genom was facing. She also spent more time in the Tower because there was a contract out on her.

She looked up at a knock on her door, her hand touching a small security panel on her desk. The liquid crystal screen on the wall near the door came on, showing her Katherine Madigan standing outside her door. "Come in," she called, at the same time shutting off the screen.

Katherine pushed open the door and entered the office.

"Good evening," Domino said, standing. She gave Katherine a slight bow.

"Good evening," Katherine said, returning the bow. "Quincy-shachou asked me to give you this," she told Domino, holding the file out to her.

Domino reached out for the file and took it from Katherine.

"The Chairman also wants to see you."

Domino nodded. "Thank you," Domino said.

"Don't mention." Katherine shook her head. "Excuse me." She bowed slightly once again then turned towards the door.

"Later," Domino said.

Katherine left the office, closing the door behind her.

Domino opened the file and looked through its contents. After several seconds she flipped it closed, her hands shaking slightly. Then the tremor was gone, overridden, almost instantly, almost as if it never was. She left her office, moving as quickly as she could and yet still appearing dignified.

It was not easy.


Quincy left Domino standing in front of his desk for several minutes. He said nothing to her as he stared out the windows, looking at the city. She stood perfectly still, hands clasped in front of her, holding the file.

"I want them destroyed, utterly," he said. He did not turn to face her.

"They will be."

"Handle the interrogation of the Danielson woman yourself. I'm sure that you and Madigan-kun have things well in hand, but be certain of this. No mistakes."

"Hai."

He said nothing more and Domino took that as a dismissal. She wondered what to do about the file and decided to take it with her. She bowed deeply and then turned walking towards the doors. Before leaving she bowed once again. "Excuse me," she said softly.

Quincy smiled slightly once she had gone. Both Odotte and Madigan had represented huge investments in their own way. Both were paying handsome dividends, in their own way. While they worked together he had little doubt that they would serve Genom well.

Both wanted his seat, but both were willing to wait. Madigan's loyalty to Genom and himself knew no bounds. She wanted his seat to better serve the company.

Odotte wanted power as a prize, something to strive towards. Still, if she got it, she would work hard to keep it and that would mean protecting Genom. Her loyalty was not as boundless as Madigan's, but he trusted her enough.


April 12th, Wednesday, 8:57am

Domino looked at her watch. She did not need to, her own system kept perfect time, loosing at most a millionth of a second every month or so. Looking at her watch was all part of the illusion she maintained.

"How long has she been in there now?" Domino asked the guard.

"A little over six hours," the man said.

"Anything of note?

He shook his head.

She nodded and then walked to the cell door, pulling it open. She stepped in then closed the door behind her. She was almost certain she could smell the fear in the room as she placed her briefcase on a low table by the door. Then she turned and walked into the centre of the room. Michelle Danielson was lying on a low couch, restraints holding her securely, though comfortably, in place.

Michelle was almost naked; the tattoos that covered her body easy the see. The nipple, navel and other rings had been removed from her body. The lenses had been taken from over her eyes, revealing the cameras in her sockets. She looked rather pitiful like that.

"I don't want to waste any time Miss Danielson," Domino said in her slightly accented Englishnot that she could not remove that accent if she chose. "Tell me what I want to know."

Michelle said nothing.

Domino smiled and walked over to the woman, kneeling beside the couch.

"Cassandra is dead, I suppose you know that though," she said softly. "I'm sorry about that. You will miss her I think." Domino placed her hand on Michelle's abdomen.

Michelle started breathing a little faster.

"What was he like?" Domino asked.

"Who?" Michelle asked in spite of herself.

"Largo. What was he like? Did he tell you he loved you?"

Michelle turned her head away from Domino, staring at the wall.

"He did. He told you that. He brushed the hair from your eyes, like this." Domino moved her hand as if brushing a lock of hair out of the way. "He told you that your eyes were beautiful." She smiled cruelly at that.

"How do you know?" Michelle turned her head to stare at Domino, the cameras in her head whirring quietly as they readjusted the focus. "How do you know that?"

Domino smiled. "I know everything. I'll know when you lie and I'll hurt you in ways you never believe you could be hurt. I'm worse than Largo could ever hope to be," Domino told her and smiled when Michelle began to cry. It was interesting to watch as her tear ducts had been sealed when her eyes had been replaced. All the other signs were there, but no tears.

Domino thought that was rather interesting as she herself could produce tears, when she needed to.

"Shall we begin?" Domino asked as she put a hand on Michelle's forehead.


It was sometime later when Domino finished with Michelle. The woman lay on the couch, no longer restrained, and sobbed her tearless sobs. Domino stood near the door, just watching.

She had, as she had promised, hurt Michelle in ways that the woman could have never envisioned. Domino had found the fractures in Michelle's psyche, had worked her way into them, and then had opened then even more. Like water working its way into stone and then freezing, Domino had broken her.

She watched for a time, almost feeling sorry for the woman. Dominoor had it been Mason?had read once that the strong had no need to be cruel. She had not wanted to hurt Michelle, but she really had not had much of a choice. And Michelle, willing or not, had come to this place by her own actions.

If she had not had her emotions under tight control Domino might not have been able to do what she had done. Then again, she might have.

Given time Michelle might be treated, made whole again, but that was not really an option. Domino opened the briefcase she brought with her and removed a slim, leather case. Opening it revealed a syringe and a vial of liquid.

She filled the syringe from the vial. The clear liquid was the same mixture of opiates and poisons she had had used on Terrence Lecoix. A moment of exquisite pleasure before a painless death. It could almost be looked upon as being kind.

Domino did not look at it that way. Dead was dead, and there was little kindness in killing someone. It was simply the most expedient way to deal with the problem.

Michelle let out a pained whimper as the needle slid into her thigh, into one of the big veins there. Domino pushed the plunger down, pumping the poison into the woman. Then she pulled the needle free and stepped back.

A few seconds later Michelle's body completely relaxed, and smile began to form on her face even as she died. The real Odotte's parents had been avenged, Domino thought, though it was a very far off thought. What she had done to Michelle had nothing to do with them.

Domino packed the needled away and then closed her briefcase. She still had other work to do.


The body of Cassandra, 33-S unit AD11A, was something of a mess. Either someone did not like boomers, or they had wanted to make sure that this one stayed down. Domino sighed as she examined the damaged sexaroid laid out on the stainless steel table.

A number of small rounds had hit her in the abdomen and chest, damaging important relays and motive systems. While the damage had been extensive, it would have been repairable. The problem was someone had administered a coup-de-grace with three rounds to the head.

That was not so easily repairable, and even if it could be there would be complete personality loss and partial memory loss.

Not much use in putting the resources towards making such repairs.

Domino placed a laptop computer near AD11A's head. She then produced scalpel that she used to carve away the flesh at the back of the neck until she had uncovered one of the interface ports. The scalpel went into a jar full of cleaning solution, the blood on it adding a pink tinge to the previously clear liquid.

She slid one end of an interface cable into AD11A's neck jack and plugged the other into the laptop. She took a shorter cable and plugged that into the laptop as well. The free end she slid into a small slit in her right wristafter looking about to make sure no one was watchingconnecting herself to AD11A's mind/brain system, buffered by the laptop. Even with the buffering it was something of a disturbing experience.

As she had expected she encountered a confusing mess of data, most of it too scrambled to be recognised. She started cataloguing and storing the recognisable chunks first, then, like a jigsaw puzzle, began fitting the fragments into the whole.

She did not try to get it all, just those parts that might contain information that she needed. Most of it was not important to the current situation-though she suspected that it had been important to Cassandra.

After about an hour she was finished. She unplugged all the leads and then set the laptop aside. For a few seconds she stared down at the Sexaroid, feeling some empathy towards her. It was not impossible that Domino herself might have ended up like that.

She picked up the chart lying nearby and wrote down her disposal orders. The unit was to be cremated and the ashes interred at the Genom grave site on Mount Kouya. In a way Cassandra might be considered a Genom employee, and she had just provided a service of value to the company. The least she had earned was to be treated with some respect in the last.

Domino dropped the chart to the table and then picked up her laptop.

They were close to being able to move decisively. She just needed a little more information.


Leon was not quite sure about what he was about to do, but as it was he had run out of leads. He was fairly certain that she would not take it well. He pushed open the door and entered the factory. He been there before, to pick up Yuuko, but he had never stayed long.

He saw Priss, the hood of her car open, working on something.

"Hey, Priss-san," he called.

Priss looked over her shoulder. "Leon? What are you doing here?"

Leon walked towards her. "I need to talk to you."

"Yeah? About what?" She put the wrench she was using down and stepped back from the car.

"About what happened on the 25th of last month."

"What about it?" Priss asked.

"Something weird went down at Genom that night, involving the particle beam satellites, an American named Douglas Meren, and the Knight Sabers. After finding dead ends at the end of all my other leads I'm left with the Knight Sabers."

"So? What does that have to do with me?"

"Well, you are..." he began.

Priss hit him, hard, in the stomach. She thought it was a little like punching a wall, but it had some effect. "I am interested in the Knight Sabers because I respect them and the fact they can get the job done? That is what you were going to say, wasn't it Leon?" she asked softly as she held him up.

Leon took a few seconds to catch his breathdamn she could hit hard. "Something like that," he said.

"Good. Anything else, well, that might be dangerous. Do you understand me Leon?"

Leon nodded. "I understand. As a fan of the Knight Sabers do you have any ideas?" He straightened up and stepped back from Priss.

Priss shook her head. "There is nothing I can tell you."

Leon looked at her for a few seconds then nodded. "Sorry to have bothered you."

"Don't mention it," Priss told him, turning back to the car.

Leon sighed as he turned and started towards the door. He wondered if Priss did not know anything that could help him, or just would not tell him.


"Almost finished," Mackie said as he reached inside the Tornado to make the last connection. Getting the new leg onto Linna's motoslave had been the most difficult part of the final repairs he had to make-the unit had been moved out of Raven's garage and back to LADYS633 that morning.

Sylia looked over the unit. "Good. We'll unpack the ammunition next and make sure that it is all right."

"So that is it?" Mackie asked.

Sylia nodded. "All the hardsuits and motoslaves are in perfect condition, ready to go when needed."

Mackie stood, his work finished, and stretched. "It's about time. I think I'll go out tonight and have some fun."

"I understand," Sylia said with a slight smile on her face. "Come on, let's go take a look at the ammunition."

The Knight Sabers did not need a lot of ammunition. The weapons on Sylia's, Linna's and Nene's hardsuits were contact weapons, or energy. The charges for Priss' and Linna's knucklebombers were prepared by Sylia. Priss' railgun spikes were crafted by Dr. Raven. It was the weapons of the motoslaves that required Sylia to acquire ammunition.

Because her sources were rather shady, she had to be careful about the quality. To that end she and Mackie used scanners to check each round. Tedious work certainly, but very important. A misfire or a jam caused by faulty ammunition could be fatal for her small group.

Finally she and Mackie finished their work and packed all the ammunition away into the weapons vault.

Mackie went to get cleaned up before going out for an evening on the town. Sylia remained in the workshop for a time to finish up some work of her own. She was still reviewing the battle logs from the fights with the Flecks boomers, trying to decide how best to fight such a large unit. The unfortunate conclusion was that there was no easy way. She would simply have to use the same tactics and hoped luck held out.

With luck she would never have to face such units again.

Sylia finished her work off and shut everything down, making certain the various vaults were locked up and the security systems were active. The elevator took her up to her penthouse. Mackie was already gone by then. Sylia went to her room, undressed, and then walked into her bathroom.

She took a long, hot bath, the water scented with bath oils. Later, wrapped in a soft robe, a glass of red wine at her elbow, the lighting soft, she sat in her room, listening to music as she looked over various reports. Even when she tried to relax she was still taking care of business, but there was so much business to take care of.

Financially she was fine, on all fronts. Genom's generous payment for the jobs on the twenty-fifth of March meant the Knight Sabers had no financial problems. The rest of Sylia's financial empire was also doing well.

She also reviewed the recent actions of her new lawyer, Mika Takahashi. Mika was shrewd, and smart, and just maybe very loyal. More loyal than Shuji had been? She was not certain, but she suspected that Mika was looking for someone to be loyal to, someone to use her impressive skills for.

If that were so then she would be of great value to Sylia. She was going to make sure of that before she gave too much trust to the young woman, however.

There were other things, reports about Genom, reports about other companies and countries and people. All of it part of a picture that Sylia was trying to put together.

She took a sip of her wine. She just needed a little more information.


Priss had called Miako before she had ridden over to her place-she felt that her wounds had healed enough and she could be back on her bike. The door to the photographer's apartment was opened almost as soon as she knocked.

"Priss," Miako said warmly. "Come in."

Priss passed through the door and then kicked her riding boots off before stepping up, out of the genkan. "Been a while," she said.

Miako smiled. "We've both been busy. So," she said as she turned about and walked towards her studio, "how was the recording?"

"Tiring," Priss told her. She walked into the studio and looked around. The collage was near completion, though a large number of photos still covered the table.

"And other than tiring?" Miako asked as she took a seat by the table.

Priss sat across from her and looked the photos in front of her over. A large number had already been cut up, material for the collage, but a few were still whole. She picked up one showing a few ADP officers standing over the form of a downed boomer. "It went well," she told Miako and then put the photo back on the table.

"Details, give me details."

Priss smiled slightly as she gave Miako the full story, from her arrival in Scotland, to her meeting with Gordon, and to all the work they had done. Miako sat there and listened, asking a few questions every now and again when something interested her.

"Now I am waiting to see what will happen," Priss finished.

"Sounds like you enjoyed yourself."

"I did. It was nice to work with professionals, people who know how to make things work."

"Sounds like you really liked this Gordon-san."

"I did."

"Sleep with him?"

"No," Priss told her, no anger in her voice.

"Did you want to?" Miako pressed, smiling as she asked.

Priss shook her head. "I was happy enough to work with him." She paused. "And he was a little old."

Miako laughed at that. "You are wonderfully shallow at times."

Priss looked at her for a few seconds without saying anything. "Maybe we all are."

"I know I am. Want to see something?"

"What?"

"Come on," Miako said, getting to her feet.

Priss got up and followed Miako to her bedroom. Miako stepped aside at the door so Priss could look in.

Lying on Miako's bed, their arms and legs tangled up in the bedcovers, were a young man and woman. They looked like they were asleep. She looked questioningly at Miako.

"Met them last night," she told Priss. "Americans, college students, came to Japan to expand their horizons or some such crap. I invited them over here because they looked so wonderfully innocent."

"What did you do to them?"

"It is what they did to themselves. They happily took advantage of the free drugs." She laughed softly. "I'm trying to decide what to do with them."

"What to do with them?"

"Well, I've got some pictures already. I was thinking of putting them up on the net. I also have a bag full of S&M gear somewhere around. Want to hurt them?"

Priss was a little surprised by the question, bit not terribly shocked. She had hurt people before, just because she wanted to. She thought back to that night at Club 666 and the fight. Of course then she had reason, but Ritsuko had suggested otherwise.

She looked at the two lovers, she assumed they were lovers, and wondered if they had ever felt any real pain.

"No," she said after a moment.

"No?"

"Like you said, wonderfully innocent. Why should we destroy that?"

"Why shouldn't we?"

"Because there is already enough cruelty in this city without us adding to it."

"You got me there." She pushed by Priss, walking back towards her studio.

Priss looked at the two for a moment then turned and walked the way that Miako had gone. Miako was waiting for her at the studio. "Do you believe what you said?" she asked.

"That there is enough cruelty in this city as it is? Yes."

"And yet you were thinking about it, about hurting those two."

"So?"

"I just want you to be aware of that." Miako smiled broadly then took a seat at the table. She lay one of the photos on a clear area and began cutting a part out.

"Why do you do this?"

"Do what?" She did not look up from her work.

"Play these games. What is the point?"

Miako said nothing for a time. She finished cutting up the photo and then reached for anther. "You have to understand the human condition before you can represent in your art."

"So you push things to get it amplified," Priss said.

"Something like that."

"That is twisted."

Miako looked up from her work. "I know. When you get right down to it the world is twisted. I did not make the rules, but I'll play by them. You know that as well as I do."

"It doesn't mean I have to like the rules."

"Don't give me that Priss. You are willing to hurt people just because you want to. Maybe you aren't so flagrant about it as I, but you still do it. We both see the truth, have learned things most people won't learn."

"Maybe we just see the truth we want to. Anything to justify the fact that we go around fucking things up."

"Please Priss, don't get all moral on me. We survived where other people have died, that means we were right in what we did. Don't get all weepy about that."

"I'm going," Priss told her.

"Don't you want to stay to make sure I don't hurt the innocents?"

"I can't save everyone." Priss began to walk towards the door.

"And if they can't protect themselves they deserve to be hurt, right?"

Priss stopped where she was and stood still for several seconds. "Something like that," she finally said as she started walking again.

Miako laughed softly behind her.


April 12th, Wednesday, 9:36am, New York City

Shoji kicked the door in as he ran down the stairs into the tunnels where the power cables, water pipes and phone lines were located. He might even be able to get into the sewers or the subway. He had options for his escape and that was all that mattered.

He looked up and down the long tunnel, listening.

He did not know the city well, he was new to it, spoke the language poorly, and had few options open to him. His new employers had told him to keep quiet and wait, to avoid contact with anyone who might know him.

He had not heard anything important from any of them in over a week. Not since he had finished telling Alice Myers most of what he knew. He was not certain if he would hear from them. It was possible he had been cut free.

Now he was being chased by a team that screamed Genom and he had no friends.

He turned and ran down the south branch of the tunnel.

A few minutes later he was trying to kick a grating free. Beyond the grating were the subway tunnels. In those tunnels he was certain he could lose his pursuers He was so close, once in there he was sure he could hide and get free.

Something hit him from behind, slamming him against the grating. The grating buckled as he hit it and broke free. Both he and his attacker fell two meters onto the cement ledge next to the tracks.

Shoji twisted and rolled off the ledge, taking his attacker with him, landing on the tracks, on top of the person. He broke free of the hold and slammed his fist down into the man's face, once, twice, then a third time. After the last blow the man went limp. He grabbed the man's head in his hands and began to slam it down on the tracks. He stopped only after the pounding was replaced by a wet, pulpy sound. It had been a vicious assault, fuelled by his fear.

Shoji got to his feet, shaking his hand that he thought might be broken. There were other pains, but the adrenaline in his system was acting like a painkiller. The limp form of his assailant lay there, most certainly dead. It was too dark to see much other than that he was male, probably Japanese, and almost certainly from Genom. Shoji was glad it had not been a boomer.

At the sound of an approaching train, he pulled the body from the tracks and shoved it under the ledge where he hoped it would not be found. He jumped up onto the ledge a few seconds before the train passed.

The tunnel was suddenly full of sound and the lights from the cars. When it was gone he relaxed, leaning up against the wall, letting out a breath. He still had to get clear, out of the city. He would have to meet up with the people he was working for, force the meeting. He was not going to stay out in the open any longer. He would not let them cut him free.

He pushed himself away from the wall then stopped as he felt something around his throat. Before he could do anything the metal whip tightened, digging into the flesh of his neck. He was pulled up and back into the tunnels he had so recently left.

For a moment he could not breathe, his vision was going blurry around the edges, then the constricting loop around his neck was loosened and he sucked in a deep, ragged breath.

A large man stood over him, holding the whip. Shoji tried to kick, to punch, but he was still light headed from the attack and his blows were ineffective. The man pulled him to his feet and, using the metal whip, bound his hands behind his back. He forced Shoji to his knees, looped the whip around his neck then down around his ankles. If Shoji tried to get to his feet he would strangle himself.

Once he finished binding Shoji the man quickly searched him, removing a pistol and several knives. He tossed the weapons over his shoulder, into the subway tunnel.

"I hope you aren't too uncomfortable Manabe-san," a woman said from somewhere in front of him.

"Who?"

"Who I am is not very important," she said, moving closer. He could make out little more than her height and build. There was something else; something subtle that he could not put his finger on, some thing that was frightening at the same time it was desirable. "What is important is what you can tell me."

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said.

The woman knelt down in front of him. She took something from her pocket. A moment later there was light in the tunnel. A faint light, but it let him see the woman in front of him clearly.

She was a young woman with long brown hair, blue eyes and a very beautiful face.

"I'm McErie Rei. You can call me Rei," she told him.

"I'm..."

"I know who you are Manabe-san, and that is not important either. I want you to tell me where I can find Alice Myers," she said.

Rei had been tracking down people for Domino for a few weeks now. She had given her loyalty completely to her sister, her loyalty and her love. She had known a lot to begin with, Douglas had given her that. Since then she had built on her knowledge. She knew enough to ask the right questions and to know if she was being lied to. It gave her quite an edge.

"I don't know any Alice," Shoji said. He was breathing heavily, obviously afraid.

"Lars, break a finger," Rei said calmly.

The big man behind Shoji grabbed one of his fingers and snapped it back.

Shoji screamed and would have fallen but for Lars holding him up.

"Alice Myers, I suspect you are angry at her, seeing as she left you here. Now, she was in New York several days ago. Where is she now?"

Shoji stared at the woman, fear making his heart thump in his chest and leaving him disorientated. She seemed to know all the answers. He wondered if he could lie to her.

"Switzerland," he said after a moment.

"I see. Lars, break another finger."

Again Shoji could do nothing to stop the man or the pain. He was crying when Rei spoke again.

"Where is she?"

"Dublin," he said, forcing the tears back.

"Good, not so hard to tell the truth now is it?" She smiled at him as she put a soft hand on his cheek. "Now, let's have a long talk and every time you lie to me, and I will know, Lars will break a bone. You have six fingers and two thumbs left. If you are wise you will not go beyond them. Do you understand?" She shifted her hand up to brush the hair from his forehead. Her touch was gentle and it reminded him of Maiko. "Really Manabe-san, what do you owe these people? They have abandoned you."

Shoji's head dropped forward then snapped back up as the metal whip began to strangle him. He coughed several times. He closed his eyes against the tears as he began to talk.

Twice he tried to lie and both times, as she had promised, she knew and Lars broke two more fingers.

By the time he was done he felt wasted, all his energy gone.

"Okay, free him," Rei told Lars.

Lars unwound the metal whip from him, then coiled it up into a loop and put it in his jacket. Shoji fell to lie on the floor.

"I'll be with you in a minute," Rei told him. Lars nodded and walked down the tunnel. Rei knelt down and coaxed Shoji to his feet, helping him stand. "I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"Domino asked me to tell you to say hello to your wife."

"What?"

"Well, actually she didn't tell me to say that. She just wanted me to say goodbye for her, but I thought this was a little more dramatic."

"I don't understand."

"Goodbye Manabe-san," she said, pushing him as hard as she could.

Shoji snapped backwards and fell down onto the tracks, hitting the current carrying rail. There was a snap of electricity and a smell of burning. Rei moved to look down on the tracks. She did not leave until she saw him hit by a passing train.

Make sure they are dead, she had been told. Do not take a chance.

She was sure he was dead so she left.

The information he had given her was quite valuable. She was certain that Domino would be able to make use of it.


April 13th, Thursday, 12:09am, MegaTokyo

"Are you ready to go?" Domino asked Rei.

"My team and I are standing by." Rei was still in New York.

"I want you to make your way to Dublin and pick up Myers-san."

"Hai," Rei replied over the satellite link.

"Good. When things start they will move fast. Make sure you are ready.

"I will."

"Good. I will talk to you later," she said, then cut the connection. More pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. A day or two more and she would be ready to present her report to Quincy.

After that, as she had told Rei, things would begin to move quickly.


Domino stared at Rei's image on the screenit had been several hours since they had last spoken. Every few seconds lines of interference would appear on the screen. It was a by-product of the scrambler and the satellite link.

"You found her?"

"Yes, but she managed to get away," Rei said hesitantly.

"Why?"

"Our advanced team made a mistake and tripped an alarm."

"Do you know where she went?"

"No."

"You do have prisoners?"

"Yes Domino-sama, including Nancy."

"Handle her questioning yourself, then bring her back to the Tower."

"I will Domino-sama."

"Have you broken into their communication net yet?"

"Just a few minutes ago. I don't expect we will have it for long, I'm sure Myers-san will soon inform the others."

"Get as much from it as you can," Domino said as she cut the link.

Alice Myers escaping was a set back. Domino had hoped to finally capture one of the main people, alive. Still, Nancy would likely provide her with some useful information.

The net was being drawn tighter and tighter every day, but every day saw a greater chance that their quarry might escape. They were dealing with very precise timings in this operation. They could not afford to wait too long, but could not afford to move to quickly either. It was a difficult task.

She turned in her chair and looked over at a notewritten in cipher, Haruko's handwriting. If things went well they might close down another part of the network. If they were lucky they might yet get one of the main people in for questioning.


April 13th, Thursday, 11:16pm, London, England

Alice Myers once had tried to unwind the secrets of the DNA code. That had all ended the day she had met 'him' in a bar in the very city she was in. She had just been taking some time off, relaxing, recharging the batteries, as she liked to put it. And there he had been with his blue grey hair and those gold eyes and a face that could have graced an angel.

She had fallen straight into his arms, willing to give him anything.

He had taken everything, and more. Those beautiful fingers, burning into her brain, giving her everything she needed to be his slave.

From that point on she had been his pawn, unwilling at first, now just too tired to care. She did not care if she lived or died. No, that was not true. She really did not want to live. Not haunted by 'his' dreams, not trying to complete 'his' quest.

When he had died she had thought herself free. That had been foolish. There had still been Nancy. Pretty little Nancy, more his puppet than she had ever been-so she thought. There was also the anxiety that rose up when she did nothing, that drove her into action. She had once feared she would never be free. Now she gave into that fear, no longer trying to fight it.

The roads she walked on were wet, though the rain had stopped not so long ago. She was close to the bar where it had all started. A strange sense of nostalgia had made her pick the area as a meeting place. She could see the Genom London Tower from where she was. It was hard not to see that monster no matter where you were in the city. Still, she was very close. Ironic really, what with Genom hunting her.

She let herself fall back against the wall of a building and stared up at the Tower. A small part of her wanted to walk in the front doors and just turn herself in. A ridiculous thought. As bad as things were now they would be worse if she fell into their hands. She knew more about Genom than she had ever wanted to know.

A red Porsche pulled up to the curb near her. The passenger side, gull wing door swung open. She stumbled towards it, almost falling. She was so tired. Dropping into the seat she swung her legs into the car and reached up to pull the door shut.

"How are you?" Rafael Browning asked, not looking over at her.

"Tired. How bad is it?"

"Bad," he told her as he pulled out into the street. He headed to the right side of the street before correcting himself. He was not used to driving in England. "They closed down most of our operations in North America a few hours ago. Shoji was bait. They knew where he was and snapped him up when they needed him. We were wrong to give him as much information as we did."

"We took a chance," she said, looking over at Rafael.

He was a slim black man, his hair cut very short. His accent was Canadian, as was he. Once a member of the Canadian secret service, Largo had got him too. He had used one of the sexaroids to drag him in. All of Largo's slaves had shared their sad stories with each other. Who else could understand them?

"What are we going to do Raf?" she asked after a few minutes.

"Michelle's plan fell right though, but Kirk is setting up something just as big. We'll get it done and then it will be over," he told her.

"What?"

"We'll talk later."

"Why? Are you afraid the car is bugged." She laughed.

"It might be. I don't want to talk about it right now. I'm tired too."

"It will be over," she said quietly.

"Pardon?" He finally looked over at her.

"It will be over. Why can't I believe that?"

"Once we are done we can finally rest, and we won't have to die to get that rest," he said, turning his attention back to the road. He was holding the steering wheel so tight the leather covering creaked.

He was angry, she could tell that. He was also scared. She was scared too. Scared that he was wrong and scared that he might be right.


"One should not think he can hire others and have them do everything, but rather he should be of the mind to rely on himself and to know the condition of things. Only then should he delegate to others"
-Hojo Nagauji