Bubblegum Crisis: Stage Three

Part Eighteen

Nene Romanova and Sylia Stingray raced toward the Genom Tower as soon as they heard about the bombing. They had been talking a break from work, and had actually gone out together to a nice family resturant.

'Well, it wasn't a break,' Nene admitted as she weaved the stylish sports car through traffic, 'I think it was a date.'

"Sorry we got interrupted," Sylia apologized as she sat beside Nene. They were both in the front seat, which was bad security, but honestly the little sports car barely HAD a back seat.

"Me too," Nene admitted, dressed in sporty shorts and a t-shirt. She took a look at Sylia in her jeans and blouse, showing off some pretty nice looking curves, then decided it was better to concentrate on the road.

Sylia snuck a glance at Nene in her cute short shorts, then concentrated on her phone. "Can't log in at Genom, system doesn't even reply to my executive codes," she said, frustrated.

Nene looked at her in surprise, "Seriously? There are multiple redundant systems. It shouldn't be completely down."

"Apparently it is," Sylia said. She frowned thoughtfully, "For that many systems to go down..."

Nene made a face. "We shouldn't speculate until we get there," she said, the tower rising in front of them, "but it doesn't look good."

They arrived at the security gate to find chaos as reporters, media representatives and security forces argued loudly. Someone recognized Sylia and the reporters tried to mob the car, only for the security forces to get their act together and block them.

"There, the gate!" Sylia pointed needlessly as a staffer raised the security gate for them.

"Got it," Nene said as she started the car up again and headed through.

AS the approached the base of the tower they could see smoke curling from the underground, and Nene cursed softly. "The main computer cores are down there," Sylia muttered.

"They might still be intact," Nene offered as they pulled up, "the refrigeration systems and the cold room themselves are damn tough."

"Let's hope," Sylia said grimly as she got out. Despite her casual clothes she took a steadying breath, somehow summoning a presidential manner, then advanced on the chaos.

Jeena Malso nodded respectfully, "Miss Stingray, I called you but I'm not sure it went through."

"Communications down too?" Sylia raised her eyebrow. "I tried accessing the corporate net, but got nothing."

Jeena nodded grimly, "We had a serious incident." She took a breath, "I'll let you know what we have so far."

Apparently someone or something had planted a explosive device in a critical junction near the main computer cores. Indications were the computers themselves were unharmed, but the system was cut off as well as communications and remote uplinks.

"From how you phrased it we don't know who planed the device?" Sylia asked.

"No security footage available nor eyewitnesses," Jeena admitted. She sighed, "And the way things are going, I expect a accident to happen with the records."

"You think the culprit is that deep into us?" Sylia asked, even though that was exactly what she thought was happening.

Jeena gave her a look. "Miss Stingray, kindly don't assume I'm a idiot. We both know something is very wrong in Genom, and I strongly suspect you have your own people investigating, just like I do," she said flatly.

Sylia took that rebuke calmly, in fact she smiled slightly. "Point taken," she conceded. "You can understand why I'm not confiding in you, of course."

"You don't know who's in on it," Jeena conceded. She smiled grimly, "Anyone at Genom could be involved, I assume."

"Pretty much my thinking yes," Sylia agreed.

Jeena nodded. As they watched the emergency teams work she added, "Have you decided on whom to replace Mason? Or is Quincy handling it?"

Sylia understood the subject change, since they were watching bits of the network go up in flames. "Do you think it's necessary? I understood Mason had a second in command." she asked.

Jeena made a face. "No insult to the man, because he's got the needed skills, but he's a plodder," she told her. "No one ever moved to replace him simply because..."

"Mason was so good they didn't need a excellent second in command," Sylia said, sounding mildly disgusted.

"Pretty much," Jeena said as one of the emergency crew headed towards them. "What's the situation?" she asked calmly.

He was dressed in a light environmental protection suit, but pulled back the hood with a hiss of escaping gas. "Not good," he admitted, "fire crew thinks whatever was in the device was thermite based. We may just be stuck letting it burn out."

"Do we know how bad the damage is?" Sylia asked, noting with some amusement that he didn't recognize her.

"Very extensive," he admitted, "the computer core is intact, along with most of the power runs in and out, but the explosion and fire took out the communications hub and firmware. I'd guess it'll take a complete rebuild."

"Thank you," Sylia sighed. She nodded to Jeena, "Please excuse me."

"Thanks for coming out, sorry there's no better news," Jeena said as Sylia left.

"Who was that, boss?" the emergency guy murmured to Jeena quietly. She answered and he yelped, "THE PRESIDENT?!"

Sylia bit back a laugh as she headed back to where Nene was waiting. The young woman had her computer out, and was typing industreously. "Something interesting?" she asked as she leaned on Nene's side of the car.

Nene smiled impishly, "Well, I had to keep occupied somehow. Did you know you CAN still access the system if you go in through the subsystem for janitorial services? Seems it had a separate hardwired link."

Sylia blinked "Why would there be...?"

"In an emergency, would you rather have toilets back up or communications go down?" Nene wondered aloud.

Sylia thought about how disgusting the toilets could be. "Okay, I see your point," she admitted.

"Not that it makes that much sense," Nene admitted. "In fact I don't understand why they didn't have a second, back up system for access."

Sylia looked thoughtful, "I expect the access is limited."

"Not much," Nene conceded, "but I can see the activity levels." She looked at Sylia, "And the servers are VERY active. Something big is going on, though damn if I know what it is."

Sylia was about to ask something when her phone rang. "Linna," she noted as she answered, "Hello?"

"PLEASE tell me you were nowhere near the explosion?" a relieved sounding Linna asked.

"I wasn't then, but I'm here now," Sylia said, "sort of showing the flag as it were."

"Well, be careful," Linna sighed. "Do you want me or Priss out there?"

"I think Priss is already on her way," Sylia said calmly. "You two enjoy your day off," she advised with a smile.

Off in the distance they heard a motorbike, then not long after Priss herself arrived, taking off her helmet and looking cross. "Why the hell are you hanging out here like this?" she complained, "A sniper could kill you easily."

"HI, Nene, how are you?" Nene said, rolling her eyes, "How was your day?"

Priss made a face. "You two have a nice half day off?" she asked reluctantly.

"Why yes, thank you," Sylia purred, amused.

Priss growled, "So why are we standing out here, again?"

Sylia looked amused, "I'm wearing our usual armored underwear, Priss. And if someone wanted to headshot me, they could have done it before now."

Priss made a growlly sound, adjusting her sunglasses with various magnification functions. "Well, let's get inside as soon as possible, huh?" she suggested, "I'd rather not be shot at today."

"Spoil sport," Nene teased. She looked at Priss curiously, "By the way, did you piss off anyone new lately?"

"Who, me?" Priss asked.

Nene smirked at that. "Well, seriously, someone hacked ADP and Tokyo Police databanks. I have flags on certain stuff, and your flag was tripped."

Priss made a face, "Well, hell. What did I do THIS time?"

To be continued...