Stage Three

Chapter 28

Saeko Busujima wielded the baseball bat with surprising ferocity. She beat the boomer back, eventually caving in the side of it's head and 'killing' it.

"Well, that was interesting," Saeko noted.

Sylia Stingray smiled grimly, "I'm sorry you were caught up in this."

"I'm not even clear on what this is," Saeko admitted.

"Someone is targeting me, using Boomers as their weapon," Sylia sighed. "Hence my bringing a bodyguard along."

This evening meeting had been requested by Saeko. She and Sylia were to meet, going over details for a planned charity event. Then (of course) all the boomers nearby them went insane.

"How is that bat holding up? Shouldn't it be wrecked..." Linna had to ask.

Saeko hefted the weapon proudly as she said, "It's a titanium alloy."

Grimly Sylia asked her, "How many boomers do you have in the building?"

"Six," Saeko said briskly, "we've destroyed two, that leaves just two secretary, and two general maintance."

Sylia sighed. She had decided to go unarmed to the meeting. That was a decision she was regretting, now.

"I tried calling Priss, but we're jammed," Linna informed them.

"This happens to you often?" Saeko had to ask.

"Yes, actually," Sylia sighed.

"We could hole up in my office until rescue arrives," Saeko suggested thoughtfully.

"Boomers have enhanced strength," Sylia shook her head, "they could rip the door right out of the wall, then we'd be trapped here with them."

"Point," Saeko conceded.

"I'll take the lead," Linna said, "Sylia, you and Saeko guard each others backs. And if I go down, leave me."

"No!" Sylia protested.

"You're the target, as far as we know," Linna pointed out to her, "If you get away they may break off the attack."

"Before or after they tear you limb from limb?" Sylia growled.

"There is that," Linna conceded.

The three women cautiously left the office, quietly advancing towards the stairs. "Not using the elevator?" Saeko asked softly.

"Could be overridden," Sylia answered. "Is there a way out of the building that's underused?" she asked thoughtfully.

Saeko looked thoughtful, "There's an emergency ladder off the roof, but it would be a difficult descent." She added, "And I'm not dressed for it."

Linna had to work hard not to comment on THAT. She and Sylia had come in women's suits, basically. Tho Sylia's was very well tailored. Saeko on the other hand had been in a low cut, slinky dress that screamed 'notice me.'

Saeko sighed and shrugged, noticing the look.

Linna felt a twinge of sympathy. "I hate to say it, but maybe we should go with the ladder? I'd really like to avoid unnecessary fights."

Saeko looked down at her dress and winced. "This is going to suck," she mused as they went up to the roof.

Linna shot one boomer on the next floor, but luckily they didn't meet any others. Saeko unlocked the door to the roof, then waved them through.

"Anything?" Sylia asked as Linna checked over the roof.

"All clear," Linna said as Saeko locked the door behind them.

"It might slow them down," Saeko shrugged as they went to the ladder.

Sylia looked at the steel ladder down the side of the building, then over at Saeko in her slinky dress. "This may be a problem," she admitted.

THUMP! Something banged on the roof door. THUMP! They heard wood breaking.

"Shit," Saeko grabbed her dress about mid thigh, then with a grunt of effort tore the bottom half right off. Revealing, incidentally, thigh high stockings and garters.

'Yup, she was out to get some tonight,' Linna thought wryly as Sylia and Saeko started down the ladder first. Behind them, yhe door made a distressed crunching sound, then Linna swiftly followed them down.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"What do you mean I can't enter?" Priss growled at the nervous cop.

"A Boomer attacked a staffer. We're sealing off the building until ADP gets here," the young man said defensively.

Priss had been off duty, until she got a call from Nene that both Sylia and Linna had gone silent. And Reika was tied up at a Genom event. With their equipment, Nene should have at least got a standby signal, but nothing was there. So Priss headed to the meet...

Taking out her GENOM ID Priss told him, "My BOSS is in there."

"Uh.. shit," the cop cursed softly.

"Exactly. So move aside, kiddo," Priss ordered.

Priss radio crackled, and she heard a garbled communication. "Nene, did you catch that," she asked the woman back at headquarters.

"The jamming is still screwing things up," Nene reported, "but I think it came from the south side of the building. The blueprints say there's an emergency ladder on that side."

"I'll check it out," Priss agreed. She switched to addressing the cop, "I'm checking the back of the building. Don't shoot me by accident."

"Uh, yes ma'am," the cop managed as she trotted away.

Priss went around the back of the building, then saw a figure standing there. She activated her glasses thermal imaging overlay, and confirmed it was a boomer. "Hi." she called.

The boomer turned then charged her agressively.

Having already drawn her pistol Priss calmly put too shots in the boomer's chest. As the recoil pulled the gun up, she put two more into the boomer's head, finishing it off.

"Priss, you okay?" Nene asked.

"Scratch another boomer," Priss noted as she reached the ladder.

The earpiece crackled, then another voice cut in. "This is Linna. Anyone out there?" she asked.

"The jamming is gone!" Nene exclaimed. "Linna, is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," Linna said briskly, "We have a civilian with us, and we're taking the emergency ladder down."

"I'm here, will keep an eye out," Priss added.

"Uh... right," Linna answered.

Priss wondered what that was about. She looked up as the three woman came into view, then blinked. Why was one woman in a skirt so short she could see her panties? A few seconds later she realized it was Saeko Busujima.

"Priss," Sylia nodded as she hopped down the last bit.

"Asagiri." Saeko said flatly, "Of course."

"Hiiii," Priss waved as Linna jumped down.

Sylia turned to Saeko as she said, "I'm truly sorry my problems have impacted you. In my defense, this hasn't happened away from Genom."

Saeko waved that off, "You were attacked at my place of business. We should have done better protecting you."

"I will say you swing a MEAN baseball bat," Linna added wryly.

Saeko smiled slightly, "Thank you."

"Cops are out front," Priss noted, "I assume we'll have to deal with 'em too?"

Both Saeko and Sylia sighed. "Indeed," Sylia said as they walked around the front of the building.

"YOU," Leon of the ADP blurted. He sighed, "Is EVERY boomer incident revolving around you now?"

"Hi, Leon-poo," Priss smirked.

Leon just growled at her.

"You know him?" Saeko had to ask, amused.

"Only too well," Sylia sighed.

To be continued...

Notes: Just realized I hadn't had Boomers attack someone off Genom property. Huh. More on that next chapter.