Well, here's chapter 2, reaction or none. Again, if you're reading this please take the minute or so of your time it will take to give me a little feedback. It will only help make the next venture better.

The drive was uneventful, as was the day itself. Of course, the daily business of a senior Diet member generally wasn't particularly exciting, but that didn't bother Jillian.

While she certainly could become bored, Jillian didn't normally have a problem with that. Between her office duties and the casual ether-link interface she kept with the building's security systems, Jillian managed to keep herself busy. And of course, there were the master's personal projects and business dealings that Jillian was responsible for, the sort of deals that a Diet member just couldn't trust to any ordinary personal assistant. These she generally took care of on a time-sharing basis with the normal workload.

Then, also, there were projects of her own if any time was left over, mostly oriented around improving her charges' personal security. Jillian was rather creative in this area, and had already implemented a few interesting measures, some of which the master knew about, and quite a few that he didn't. Not that Jillian wouldn't have told him if he'd asked, but he never did, and Jillian thought that most of her extra measures would only have made the master nervous if he knew about them. Better to keep his peace of mind along with his personal safety, as far as she was concerned.

At about 1500, Jillian began to pack up for the day. The master wouldn't be leaving until his usual time, around 1800, probably, but Jillian was under standing orders to escort the little mistress to her dance classes after school. Of course, it was debatable whether Aiko really needed an escort like Jillian for a dance class, but neither Master Asakawa nor Jillian was willing to risk her safety in such an uncontrolled environment. After all, The Academy was one thing. It had it's own security, commensurate with the needs of the children who attended there. But, despite the outstanding instructor they'd discovered there, Phoebe's Fitness Bee just didn't offer that caliber of protection.

As usual, Linna pushed the children hard. Not harder than she thought they could handle, of course, but she was determined to help them find and exceed their limits. And this was an exceptional class. That was why they were working with her. In fact, a few of them, she thought, might even have pro potential. Take that little Asakawa girl, for instance. Not quite nine years old, and after only three sessions, she was doing as well as quite a few of the older students who'd been in the class longer. In fact, Linna thought that little Aiko might be one of her brightest pupils. But there were a few things about her that bothered Linna.

First, of course, was her father, the Honorable Akira Asakawa, senior Diet member. That was a little intimidating to say the least. And then there was her bodyguard.

She couldn't be absolutely sure, but she thought she knew what, if not who the woman was, and it made her more than a little bit uncomfortable. In fact, every time she happened to glance over at the coolly beautiful young woman, always watching Aiko and everything near her with a catlike intensity, Linna couldn't help but think of another tall, coldly intimidating blonde. But this one had been holding her friend Irene Chang suspended over the side of an overpass one-handed, and had driven the other clawed hand deep into her abdomen before dropping her lifeless body at Linna's feet.

That particular boomer had ended up with one of Linna's knuckle-bombers in her guts, but Linna didn't think that would be the socially acceptable answer to her current dilemma. In fact, she was a little shocked at herself for thinking like that in the first place. After all, even if Aiko's bodyguard really was a boomer, which she didn't know for sure, she wasn't the one who'd killed Irene. And while Linna didn't exactly love boomers, she certainly didn't hate them all just for existing the way some people seemed to. Still, something about the woman continued to fuel Linna's uneasiness.

After class, Linna was just beginning to think about a shower and maybe a bite to eat on the way home, when things took a turn for the surreal. From across the room, Aiko and her guardian approached, and with a seemingly genuine smile the bodyguard extended a hand and said, "Miss Yamazaki?"

Linna was a bit taken aback, and just looked at the proffered hand for a second, but finally she reached out hesitantly and took it. The other woman's grip was firm and cool, and her hand felt just like any other hand, offering Linna no clue as to what she might or might not be.

"Umm, yes," Linna said, "and you're...?

"Jillian," the other woman replied.

"Well, nice to meet you," Linna said, slightly puzzled, "but to what do I owe the pleasure? I know I push pretty hard, but I don't think I'm a hazard to Aiko's safety or anything."

Jillian smiled again, and said, "Oh, no, nothing like that. Aiko just wanted me to meet you, and I thought that might be a good idea. From a professional standpoint, I should get to know you at least a little better. And, of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to someone Aiko described as 'the coolest.'"

"Jillian!" Aiko hissed, blushing.

"Since you put it that way," Linna said, smiling, "I guess I've got a few minutes. Anything in particular you wanted to talk about?"

"Well, I was a bit curious... From what I understand, at one time you were perusing a professional dance career?"

"Yes," Linna said, hiding the stab of pain the question brought, "But that was quite a while ago now, and, quite frankly, I washed out."

"I'm sorry," Jillian said, "I didn't realize. And I find it hard to believe. I'm no expert, obviously, but you seem very good to me, more than good enough to be a professional dancer."

Linna smiled bitterly, and said, "Unfortunately, 'good enough' usually just isn't good enough. There's always somebody who's better, and that person got the job when I missed my break. But life goes on, as they say."

"I see," Jillian said. "And now you're here."

Linna nodded, and said, "That's right. Now I'm here."

"And do you enjoy what you do now, Miss Yamazaki?"

"Sure," Linna said. "If I didn't, I'd find something else to do. And you can call me Linna. Nobody but the kids calls me Miss Yamazaki."

"I see," Jillian replied. "Well, at least you enjoy your work. And I dare say the children are benefiting from your skills."

Linna smiled and felt her mood lighten a little. "Well, I hope so. I like to think that even if I'll never make it into the big time, maybe I can help someone else get there. Maybe," she said, turning toward Aiko, "even someone in this very class."

Aiko blushed again, looking down sheepishly, and Jillian said, "Perhaps. I'm certain that would make Master Asakawa very happy."

Linna nodded, and then said, "So what about you, Jillian? How'd you get into such a rough line of work? I mean, bodyguard for a Diet member and all."

Jillian looked thoughtful for a moment, and then said, "Well, I suppose you might say it was a job I was born to do."

"Really," Linna said, puzzled by the slightly cryptic remark. "Still, it must have been kind of tough getting a job like yours, especially nowadays. Why hire someone when you can just buy a security boomer, right?"

Jillian nodded, hoping her next words wouldn't end the conversation outright, and said, "Yes, exactly. That was the decision Master Asakawa had to make, and he chose to buy me instead of hiring someone."

Linna took an involuntary step back, and said, "Oh! I- uh, that is- I didn't realize-"

"That I'm a boomer?" Jillian said. "That's understandable. You're not supposed to be able to tell just by looking."

"Well, sure," Linna said, off balance but trying to regain her equilibrium, "but I didn't think, well, you know..."

"That you'd be able to have a conversation with a boomer without realizing it?"

Linna blushed and said, "Yeah, I guess that's it."

"Could you tell?" Jillian asked.

"No, not really," Linna said, "but..."

"But?" Jillian said questioningly.

Linna frowned slightly, and said, "I suspected before. The way you were concentrating on Aiko's every move during class, and something about your mannerisms... plus the fact that I just sort of figured someone as important as Mr. Asakawa would have boomers working for him." She paused for a moment, and then continued. "But you threw me off when we were talking."

"Really?" Jillian said. "How so?"

Linna shrugged, and said, "You kept making little jokes and things like that. I never expected a security boomer to have a sense of humor."

Jillian nodded, and said, "That's understandable too, I suppose." She paused, frowning slightly, and then said, "Linna, in a way I'm sorry that our conversation's taken this turn. I've made you uncomfortable, haven't I?"

Taken slightly aback, Linna said, "Excuse me?"

"It makes you uncomfortable that I'm a boomer," Jillian clarified.

Linna looked down momentarily, and then said quietly, "I'd be a liar if I said no. I've had some… really bad experiences over the years. My parents were killed in one of the first boomer incidents right after the Quake, and last year, a friend of mine- she was killed by a boomer. A security android a lot like you, in fact."

Jillian retained her calm demeanor, but inside the warning flags were going up, and she paused to formulate a diplomatic reply.

But before Jillian could speak, a concerned little voice piped up from below.

"But Miss Yamazaki," Aiko said, "Jillian's not like that! I'm sorry about your Mom and Dad and your friend, but Jillian would never do anything like that. Right, Jillian?"

Jillian paused thoughtfully for a moment, and then said, "I would certainly hope not, Aiko." Then, turning back to Linna, she said, "If you don't mind my asking, what were the circumstances surrounding your friend's death? Why did this boomer kill her?"

Linna smiled bitterly, and said, "Well, according to the police, she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Another random victim of a crazed boomer."

"But you think differently?" Jillian asked carefully.

Linna shrugged and said, "I was there. I saw what happened. And I guess a boomer like her could go psycho that way. But it sure is an odd coincidence that that particular boomer just happened to belong to a Genom suit whose toes she'd just stepped on."

Jillian frowned, and said, "Really."

Linna nodded, and said, "Really. And it sure is funny that Irene was dead less than twenty-four hours after she'd crossed him." Linna sighed, and continued, "Anyway, I guess it really doesn't matter that much. The guy in question died not long after that. Suicide, apparently." And then, sardonically, "Who knows? Maybe he felt guilty."

Jillian considered this for a moment, and then said, "Hmm. I have to admit, Linna, I find this disturbing on several levels. You may or may not know this, but for some time Master Asakawa has been heading a special committee that's been examining abuses of the judicial system, with particular emphasis on so called 'corporate privilege'. Linna, I think I may have a proposition for you. Would you be interested?"

Linna frowned, and said, "I guess that depends on what it is."

"Well," Jillian replied, "in addition to being Mr. Asakawa's head of security, I'm also his personal assistant. As such, I help him in gathering information and other resources for his projects, and it strikes me that he'd probably be very interested to hear about what happened to your friend. It sounds like just the sort of thing he's investigating, and that particular committee is scheduled to publish its findings in ten days. I think he'd like to be able to include that incident in their report."

Linna was speechless for a moment, and then said, "Really? You really think a Diet member would want to talk to me?"

Jillian smiled, and said, "How about brunch tomorrow? I believe he'll be able to fit you in once I tell him what you have to say."

Dazed, Linna said, "Uh, well, sure, I guess."

"Excellent," Jillian said, and then, "Well, Linna, it was nice talking with you, but I'm afraid we need to be running along now. The master should be home soon, and it's nearing Aiko's bed time."

"But, Jillian," Aiko said pleadingly, "Do we have to go right now? Don't you want to talk just a little longer?"

"I'm sorry, young lady," Jillian said mock-sternly, "but you know your father's rules very well, and if you want an extension to your bed time, you'll have to ask him in person. At home, of course."

Aiko sighed, and then said, "Oh, alright. But you'll tuck me in, then, right?"

Jillian smiled, and said, "But of course. How else could I make sure you were safe and secure for the night? Now say good night to Miss Yamazaki so that we can go."

"Oh, sure," she said. "'Night, Miss Yamazaki! See you next week?"

"Sure, Aiko," Linna said. "Good night."

And to herself, as the two walked together toward the door, the boomer's arm draped protectively, almost affectionately, around the little girl's shoulders, Linna thought, 'What a weird night. And I wonder what the others will have to say when I tell them about my new boomer friend?'