Episode 29: Chaos Theory
Priss eyed Galatea in silence for some time before she spoke the nagging question that was on her mind.
How did you– she began, but Galatea started to answer before the question was completely out.
When you entered my body, I changed, Galatea said. I am still Galatea in some sense, but I am reborn, and you are responsible for that rebirth. This is what I have become. She stood, her hair falling back and exposing her face, which was still that of Sylia's except for her eyes, her Priss-like eyes that made it clear that indeed somehow there was a little bit of Priss in this girl. A long, awkward silence followed as Priss continued to eye the girl and Leon stood gaping at the scene. The silence was interrupted by the harsh ringing of Leon's phone. Priss' eyes shifted to glance at Leon as he stood there dumbfounded, completely unaware that his phone was ringing.
Are you gonna get that, Leon? Priss asked in her usual, cool tone. Leon didn't respond, but instead continued to gape.
said Priss.
Huh? What? Leon shook himself, trying to get back to reality. This day had definitely been one of the weirder ones.
said Priss in a tone that made him feel like a retarded person.
said Leon, still flustered. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the ringing device. McNichols here.
Daley's voice rang out from the other end, I know you're busy, lover-boy, but we have a serious problem here. Daley's voice was full of urgency, but again Leon had stopped paying attention.
Leon? Leon? Are you listening to me?
said Leon, again forcing his thoughts away from his shock.
Leon, this is important! Daley shouted. You can play your stupid adolescent love games later!
Sorry, Daley, said Leon seething with irritation, but considering that I just found out that Priss is not only alive but somehow the mother of a reincarnated Galatea, I think I have a right to be a little spacey! There was a long pause in the conversation after Leon said this.
said Daley finally, his voice no longer harsh. Predictable as your are, I admit that was not the response I expected. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to even try to fathom what the hell it is you're talking about. We have a big problem. Sylia just called me, and there's a huge mad boomer on the rampage, and worse yet, she says it seemed to have made the choice to go rogue.
cried Leon. Daley, boomers don't do that! I've never seen a boomer do that! Boomers don't just wake up one day and say Hey, I think I'll go rogue today.' How can that happen?
You think I know? shouted Daley. Right now we don't have the time to worry about how it happened. We have to do do something! Sylia is going out there and we all know she's in no shape to do so!
What do we do? asked Leon.
said Daley, Priss' new hardsuit is ready...
screamed Leon. No! You are not sending Priss! We just found her again! There's no way– Leon was stopped by Priss who put her hand on his shoulder.
she said, it's ok. I want to go.
Leon said in a choking voice, please, please come back.
I will, said Priss coolly. I promise. Now just give me a ride.
* * *
Nene came bursting through the changing room doors, out of breath and exasperated.
Hurry Nene! shouted Sylia, who was already in her hardsuit. Linna, too, was in her hardsuit and was trying to get used to the feel of the new suit. Nene stripped as quickly as possible, all the while her mind on what Macky had said. She was disturbed by his mysterious words, not that she was unused to unusual behavior from him, but the last time he spoke like that was when Galatea showed up. It couldn't be, thought Nene. It just isn't possible. Galatea is gone....isn't she?
Nene finished getting into her hardsuit, her mind still occupied.
Ready, Nene? asked Sylia.
I think so, said Nene. Did you contact Daley?
replied Sylia. He said that he would call Leon for help.
What can Leon do? asked Linna.
Daley didn't say, said Sylia, turning to the young athlete. He just said that if he could contact Leon he might be able to get help. I'm not exactly sure what he meant, but I didn't have time to ask.
We need to get going, said Linna.
All right, said Sylia. Let's go. And with that, the Knight Sabers stepped into the launch chamber and were off.
* * *
Linna slammed into the wall of a nearby office building after being violently flung through the air by the rogue boomer. It was larger than the average rogue boomer–in fact quite a bit larger. Yet it wasn't the size that made it such a difficult opponent. The boomer was charged by rage, a passionate hate that was disturbingly human.
Nene shouted as Linna slid to the ground. Linna, are you ok?
I think so, said Linna, pulling herself to her feet. We haven't been doing to well with this thing so far, have we?
admitted Nene. All right, I'm going in. Nene charged forward in a frontal assault, throwing a spinning crescent kick to the boomer's head. The boomer shrieked with fury and swiped at Nene with a powerful arm. Nene leaped aside, but was not quick enough. The mighty blow from the boomer sent Nene flying, landing her on her back next to Linna.
This is insane! shrieked Nene. God dammit, just die! Nene got up for another assault, but Sylia got there first, slashing off one of the boomer's arms with her blade.
It's time for you to die! Sylia screamed. She pulled back her arm and made a fist, ready to punch through and crush the core, but the boomer anticipated her actions feigned to the right, reaching out it's remaining arm. The boomer took hold of Sylia by her helmet and pushed her down into cement forcefully.
Linna screamed as she launched herself forward toward the boomer, followed by Nene. The boomer was unfazed by the two charging Knight Sabers, but was not unaware of them. As Linna and Nene drew near, another arm sprouted from the boomer. Linna and Nene were taken aback, and the boomer's free hand expanded to the size where both Knight Sabers could be caught in it's grip.
* * *
Nigel and Macky waited anxiously for Sylia, Nene and Linna to return. Not long after the Knight Sabers had left, Macky had come running in. He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts he had barely noticed that Nene had left, but once his head cleared he found himself terrified. He knew that Sylia would decide to go fight the boomer, and this was the first rogue boomer incident in a long time.
This is always the worst part, said Macky. The waiting, I mean.
I can see why you feel that way, said Nigel in his usual monotone manner. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do.
Why does Sylia do this to herself? Macky said, eyes fixated on Nigel.
I don't know, said Nigel, she's just very passionate.
Something strange is going on, Nigel, said Macky. I can feel it. I just get the feeling that the boomers are changing. It's like their in a state of chaos. They have no guidance, only disorder, and the more the humans oppress them, the more poisoned and twisted they'll become.
You're a smart boy, Macky, said Nigel. I know this looks bad, but there's nothing we can do to help Sylia, Linna and Nene now.
You can't, but I can, said a familiar voice behind them. Nigel and Macky spun around and found themselves face to face with none other than Priss. Macky's mouth dropped, and even Nigel's eyes widened in surprise.
Well don't just sit there, Priss commanded. Get me my hardsuit.
* * *
The boomer's arm stretched out toward Linna and Nene. Taken off guard, the two women were slow to react, and before they could even attempt to dodge the boomer had them in it's clutch. Linna struggled to free herself, but the boomer was determined to hang on, quickly extending it's arm and slamming Linna and Nene into a wall with a loud crunch. Linna felt the air escape from her lungs as her body hit the wall. She and Nene crumpled to the ground limply like rag dolls. Linna found herself unable to move, the taste of sweat and blood flooding her mouth.
she gasped. Nene, say something!
said Nene. There, was that good enough for you?
We have to get up,' said Linna desperately.
Forget it Linna,' said Nene. I can't even move. Linna tried again to force her body to move, but she found it impossible. How could it end like this? Linna closed her eyes and awaited the inevitable. The boomer began to laugh in satisfaction as it lifted it's foot in order to finish the job. It was intent on the destruction of it's prey, so did not notice the Knight Saber clad in blue appear behind it.
Linna's eyes shot open as she heard the despairing wail arise from the boomer that still loomed over her.
What happened? she thought. Did Sylia get up and finish it off? As if in answer to her question, a cool voice spoke from behind the boomer. Linna felt her heart leap, for she knew to whom the voice belonged.
Bye bye, said Priss smugly as the boomer fell over.
Linna exclaimed, turning her head to look up at the last person she had expected to see, and the one person she was happiest to see.
Sorry I'm late, Priss said in a sly voice. Did you miss me?