Bubblegum Crusade (Ch. 3 of 24)
Jul. 9th, 2009 11:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fanfic_mausoleum_n_grill
Chapter Three
MYSTERIOUS NIGHT
My heart feels like it's in ruin;
I can't get to sleep at all tonight.
Something is lurking..."Midnight"
Towering skyscrapers, tranquil moonlight...
Something is likely to happen
On the highway, late at night.
One mystery after another;
You should feel it too.
"Don't close your heart..."
Don't close your heart...
Priss and the Replicants -- The bootleg tapes.
Mega-Tokyo, 2033
Anri activated her comn' band. "Things are proceeding
smoothly, Largo."
brought the lion smile. "This is all to secure our passport to a
new world, Anri. However, before that we must destroy them,
those bitches who confront me at every turn...The Knight Sabers."
He raised a fist towards the crucifix and clenched it. Very
faintly, a red light leaked into the gloom.
Bouwer was called before the firefighters had even reached
the scene, before the AD Police got there at 3:20 am. At 3:40
am, Bouwer flew over the inferno which was burning in the center
of the GENOM Industrial Complex #3 on the waterfront; his private
GENOM chopper had picked him up. He glanced at the computer
monitor that was displaying the primary vid' camera data the
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GENOM security people, his underlings, had sent him. Bouwer
replayed the scene.
A blue hardsuit stood over a destroyed C-class boomer, there
were three other people in hardsuits close to her on the walkway
over a production line. The vid' monitor zoomed in and the
person in the blue hardsuit destroyed the camera.
"A container full of combat boomers stolen," shouted the
meeting leader to the assembled heads of GENOM. "What a fiasco."
He glanced around at the main meeting room for their corporate
heads. It was three tiered and the second tier was reserved for
the various head of the
monitors showed that less than half of the heads of the Towers
had chosen to attend, via teleconferencing. The rest of the
chairs were full for this briefing. The leader continued from
his position at the head of the assemble, at the foot of the vid'
monitor. "Letting that gang do as they pleased was the root of
our problems. What the hell kind of instructions is security
giving to the various concerned sections? That's what I'd like
to know, Bouwer."
"I must agree," said a section chief across from Bouwer.
"Despite huge contributions, the N Police nor the AD Police have
been of any help."
"I think we've had enough personal attacks, don't you?"
Slowly Bouwer looked over the assembly. "I want you to think
about this dispassionately." He keyed a display for them all to
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watch. It was of a prototype hardsuit, it was marked with a
GENOM model number and the file was listed as `inactive.' "It's
not inconceivable for those suit configurations to be an
extension of combatsuits on which our company halted
development." Another set of graphics showed only a small set of
differences between the GENOM model and the Knight Sabers.
"Someone may well be secretly assisting them." Bouwer looked
over at Masashi, the new head of GPCC.
"Is this your idea of a joke?" Masashi spat back at Bouwer.
"If anyone knew anything, it would of been my predecessor,
not me. At any rate, combatsuits and cyberdroid development was
supposedly stopped ages ago."
There was a crackling noise as the main vid' monitor became
active. The Tai-Pan appeared and everybody in the hall rose.
"A grave situation, is it not?" His voice boomed out on the
assembly his image dominated. "So, have you ascertained what the
Knight Sabers are after?"
"I am sorry Sir," said the leader of the assembly from his
position at the foot of the vid' monitor were he was dwarfed by
the Tai-Pan. "However, their intervention in this secret
internal project, which we were using Callahan to advance, leads
us to believe that someone who has access to classified company
information may be involved."
"I see...is there any proof?" The Tai-Pan was unperturbed
by news of a possible security leak.
"Uh..no..we think it is a strong possibility."
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"All right then. Send Madigan to my office."
"Cer...certainly Sir."
There was a collective sigh when the Tai-Pan vanished and
the whole assembly could sit down.
"It appears to display a smooth expansion, doesn't it?"
Madigan looked over a Teck's shoulder at a large display screen
in a central control station in the
act cautiously concerning
known that we were directly involved in these coup d'etat,
protests from other countries would come pouring in."
"You needn't worry on that score," commented the Teck'.
"We're paying strict attention with regards to established
accounts." Madigan barely noticed the passing of all the Tecks
until a woman with dark hair, that was shaded with green, walked
by to her duty station. "For example, Tanzania..."
"Who is that?"
"Huh?"
"That face is unfamiliar. Who is that?"
"Oh," responded the Teck'. "That's Milly Jackson. She
transferred here four days ago. I think she was at GPCC before
that. Is something wrong?"
Madigan started to walk over to her as the Teck' turned to
take a call.
Anri heard Madigan approaching and reached into her jacket.
The pistol felt heavy. How can they not notice me, she thought.
HOUGH/CRUSADE-59
"Ms. Madigan," called the Teck'. "The Tai-Pan wants to see
you."
"The Tai-Pan? Ok. Inform him that I'm on my way." Madigan
glanced at the back of `Milly Jackson' and then headed for the
elevators.
Nene scanned the kanji in the morning paper before she
crumpled it in her hands. It read: An audacious warning from the
diabolical Knight Sabers. We will appear at the Tinsel City Bank
in three days.
"I can't stand it," she shouted as she slammed the paper
down on a table. "This makes us look like we're incredibly
evil."
Linna sat on a sofa were she absentmindedly picked at a
loose thread. "We don't just look evil, we are evil, as far as
everyone's concerned."
"In any case," said Mackie. "We can't just sit back and let
them get away with it." He was looking at his sis for some kind
of sign, but Sylia was leaning back in her chair and staring at
the ceiling.
"Let's do them Sylia." Mackie looked back over to Nene who
continued. "This `warning' is a blatant challenge to us. Let's
blow them away."
"It could be someone's idea of a joke. Besides, no one
would be so dumb as to use a code that even AD Police could
break." I don't even buy that, thought Linna as she shook her
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head.
Sylia got up and walked over to one of her windows; she
glanced out the mini-blinds before turning back to The Knight
Sabers; she felt the warmth of the sun on her back. "This
incident has made GENOM nervous. Furthermore, from the evidence,
we can deduce that someone who knows a lot about us is
responsible." Sylia paused. "Just think about what that means."
Sylia had called all the Knight Sabers by mid-morning to
arrange this meeting; she wanted to discuss their response.
When Priss got to the meeting, she propped herself up on the
doorjamb, her arms crossed, her eyes on the floor. She hadn't
spoken.
"Aw, Sylia," exclaimed Nene. "They're causing us grief.
Let's trash them. Right Priss? I mean challenging us is an
obnoxious thing to do..."
"I'm sorry...but I quit," whispered Priss.
"Right, quit...what?"
They stared at Priss in a stunned silence.
"What...what do you mean, Priss?" Mackie was the first to
be able to say anything.
"I only came here today to tell you that." Priss turned to
leave.
"Wait...Priss..." Mackie started to get up, but a gesture
from Sylia stopped him.
Sylia could no longer feel the warmth of the sun coming in
through the mini-blinds. "She's still in shock over Sylvie. I
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can't blame her."
"What'll we do Sylia?" Linna looked around at the faces of
her comrades and saw the concern she felt. Her gaze settled on
Sylia who still appeared calm and settled. "With Priss we're at
a disadvantage. Without her, it's not even a fight."
"It's not as if we don't have contingency plans. They'll
just take more time." Sylia sighed softly. "I think that'll do
it for today and I suggest that we leave Priss alone for a little
while. This is something that will be with her along time. She
will have to deal with it and it's best if we leave the first
part up to her alone. When she needs us...but I wouldn't worry,
Priss won't leave the team permanently."
The room was barren except for the chair Largo sat in and
the vid' phone. The chair was raised one step up from the floor
and it sat on the wall opposite the only door. Pale late-
afternoon sunlight filtered in through the slats on one wall.
Largo glanced through the data pad and called up a specific
detail that interested him; Anri stood before him.
"That is his schedule for the next week. Will it do?"
"Well done Anri." Largo shut down the pad and set it on top
of the vid' phone. "Once we have Callahan, GENOM's bigshot
Defence Minister, along with the combat boomers slated for
military exploration, even Quincy will be forced to give me what
I want."
The vid' phone beeped. "Master Largo," said a raspy
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sounding male voice. The vid' showed three Knight Sabers. "We
bombarded the data network with the challenge as you directed,
Sir."
"Make no mistake, finish them off. Do not fail."
"Yes Sir." The transmission ended.
"Now we can finally avenge Sylvie, right?"
Largo got out of his chair and moved over to Anri. "That's
right Anri. We cannot allow those evil people to get away with
killing your dear Sylvie." He put a reassuring hand on her
shoulder.
"I'm glad."
"Soon you'll be truly free. Just a little longer."
"Largo." Anri embraced him as he held her. The pupils of
Largo's eyes became bright red.
When Priss left Sylia's place, she gassed up, moving
mechanically, unaware of exactly what she was doing, but managing
because it was routine, familiar. She got on her bike and rode,
rode the endless kms. of concrete in Mega-Tokyo. She didn't pay
any attention to where, she just went, as fast as she could.
Priss wanted speed; she wanted the blur of life at the bikes top
speed; she wanted to scream.
Freedom.
Why didn't I listen....Why didn't I listen....Why didn't I
listen....?
"I'm free now," Sylvie had said.
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Why...Why...Why...?
The speed of the bike brought the memory of their trip up
the coast together. They had stopped by the sea, close to GPCC.
"I'm free now," Sylvie had said.
Priss smiled as she remembered leaning down by Sylvie, her
arm across Sylvie's back, a hand on her shoulder to see if she
was ok. Priss remembered the blood the cat had drawn with it's
claws; the cat just hissed at Sylvie right after Priss had petted
and fed the stray.
Blood, human blood dripped from Sylvie's cut finger; blood,
human blood dripped from Priss's glove, Sylvie's blood.
Priss remembered the look of surprise on Sylvie's face when
she...did it. Sylvie's golden eyes widened in surprise.
The tears were running freely down her face; Priss gunned
her bike faster and screamed into her helmet. Priss's course all
over Mega-Tokyo lead her back to H. 5, the path that led to the
rift. She finally noticed and slammed her brakes so she wouldn't
go hurtling over into the abyss. The tires dug into the cement;
she hit a piece of debris and lost control.
Priss face planted into the cement; her helmet faceplate
cracked and shattered as she rolled and skidded to a stop barely
a meter from the edge. Priss had rolled farther than her bike.
She slowly rose to her knees. Priss laughed when she
realized that her desire to have this kind of pain, had driven
herself to this. She could deal with bleeding abrasions on her
legs, arms, and neck; she could deal with shards of unbreakable
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safety plastic shit, they made faceplates out of these days,
which dug into her face; she could even deal with a busted up
bike, but this.
Priss had lost many friends to the rampaging boomers in her
pack days, those days before Sylia came to her with an offer.
There had been close friends, good friends that taught her to
ride, taught her to be tough when life fucked with ya, taught her
everything; but it was never been like this before. Through all
the pain and all the death, Priss now felt something that made
her want to die, to scream, shout: "It should of been me, me, me,
meeeeeeeee......"
A little wind blew and swirled around Priss as her cry faded
into the abyss were it had happened. She rose slowly to her feet
and limped over to her bike.
Priss's mind was starting to settle in on the distractions
of what her body needed when a stray memory wormed it's way
through to her conscious mind.
For an instant Priss was back on that stretch of road close
to GPCC, there was little wind, lots of warm sun. Sylvie popped
the bleeding cut in her mouth and smiled when it stopped
bleeding.
"I bet that cat was a female. She turned nasty at the sight
of a beautiful girl."
"Oh, Priss," said Sylvie gently, softly. Sylvie stood, put
a hand on Priss's shoulder and dropped it slowly down her back as
they embraced.
HOUGH/CRUSADE-65
Priss dreaded this memory and always thrust it aside when it
came. She remembered when Sylvie kissed her, lightly, quickly.
Priss responded, wanting more than a light kiss. Sylvie smiled
that all-knowing infinitely compassionate smile and they stood by
the road and the surf, to kiss. Priss faintly tasted Sylvie's
blood as they kissed.
Why didn't I listen?
Priss hurt; her body ached when she went to straddle her
bike to get over to the clinic before she lost any more blood and
stiffened up. She spat some blood, but the taste remained heavy
in her mouth.
"Why didn't I listen?" Priss cried.
Several days latter, Priss got up from were she had been
sitting on the floor at her place. She had been leaning against
her bike and sitting for so long her knees popped and ached when
she got up. Priss glanced at the Adidas athletic bag that most
of her stuff was in, before looking around, trying to decide if
there was anything else she should take.
Priss focused on a poster, it was one of her most prized
possessions. It was from her first live performance. At the
moment it made her stomach churn and the rage howl within her.
She lashed out, ripped the poster from the wall, crumpled it into
a ball and threw it across her place. The rage was gone and she
felt empty. Priss noticed Sylia for the first time as she
stooped to pick up the wadded up poster.
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"Are you sure you should throw this away? It's the poster
from you're first live concert, isn't it?"
"Sylia."
"There was no answer so I let myself in. Here." Sylia
undid the ball and flattened out some of the crumples as she
moved closer to Priss and held out the poster.
Priss turned away. "I feel bad...I really do feel bad about
it...but I can't go on like this."
"What happened wasn't your fault Priss."
"You're wrong. It was my fault. I let Sylvie die just
because I wasn't strong enough. I..I didn't listen when I had
the chance. She tried to tell me...but I didn't listen...didn't
listen."
"Priss." Sylia stepped towards Priss, who started to shake,
when Sylia's cellular phone beeped. She got it out of her purse
with one hand while she put the other on Priss's shoulder. "It's
me."
"We got trouble," cried Nene. "The fakers have shown up at
the Tinsel City Bank, just as their warning said. The AD Police
were waiting. Now they're engaged in battle. What do we do?"
"I see." Sylia looked at Priss, who slowly stopped shaking.
Priss didn't meet her gaze. "This won't be a typical outing
after all."
"It won't?" Asked Nene.
"I mean, tonight will be special. Call Linna; prepare to
move out." Sylia clicked off and turned to leave. When she got
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to the door, she glanced back at Priss. "I have faith in you
Priss."
"I'm sorry," whispered Priss as the door shut.
At the top of the Tinsel City Bank, Leon fired at the Knight
Sabers. Their quickness and agility was enough to avoid Leon's
fire before one blew off the left arm of his K-12. The Knight
Saber in blue dropped to an outcropping of building above Leon.
"Why, why?" shouted Leon. "I don't buy it."
The one in blue pointed it's palmblaster at Leon; Sylia
flipped in from the edge of the building, nailed the one in blue
right on the helmet, then flipped back to the edge where Linna
and Nene were.
"Knight Sabers, Go."
"What?" cried Leon.
The helmet on the one in blue was shattered and fell away.
The boomer leered at them and broke out of the Knight Saber
hardsuit, which was only a shell. It's two companions did the
same. These boomers were in the same class as the Doberman type;
bigger, stronger, more armament, and meaner looking that the
ordinary C-class boomers.
"So, you've revealed your true selves," shouted Sylia. "Ok,
you two, this is a big one, here we go."
"Ok," said Linna and Nene.
"Ha, the real one's have shown up," said Leon. He backed
away as the lead Knight Saber rushed towards the lead boomer.
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"Leon, Leon," shouted a junior officer over Leon's comn'.
"What is it? You've got some nerve. It's just getting
good."
"Someone has kidnapped Defence Minister Callahan."
"What?"
"The kidnappers are escaping via the freeway. What'll we
do?"
"You jerk," screamed Leon. "The only thing to do is to go
after'em." Leon turned and headed towards an AD Police chopper
that was dodging fire from one of the boomers. The boomers had
already taken out three AD Police choppers. "It's really started
now." There was a thud as one boomer went flying, did a flip
with it's jets and fired at the Knight Sabers. Leon saw the
laser blast go through the roof and slam into the next building
over. "I'll leave this to you, Knight Sabers."
"Where are they?" Sylia momentarily lost the boomers in the
smoke and debris. She turned as one came up at her side and hit
her, which sent her into the top of the building. She was just
able to execute a jet-role away from another boomer who's fist
went right through the ceiling cement were she had been a second
ago. "Shit. They're tougher than normal. This is a fuck'en new
model."
"Come on," yelled Linna as she lead Nene back into the
fight.
Callahan, the Minister of Defence for Japan, sat next to
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Largo in the back seat of a nondescript black sedan. The highway
lights flashed in his flushed face as he looked down at the
handcuffs. "Just who are you anyway? You think you're going to
get away with this sort of thing?"
Largo punched him in the stomach. "Do be quiet for awhile
Mr. Minister. Soon, your usefulness will be at an end. Anri,
quickly."
"Yes, Sir." She increased their speed.
Priss left her place and hit the road. She was dodging
through the late night traffic when she noticed Anri drive by.
Priss skidded to a stop by the side of the road.
She was wearing her hair differently but that was definitely
Anri, thought Priss. What's she still doing in town? And who
was that man with her?
"Ms. Madigan," called a GENOM Teck'. "There's a message
from Boomer Omega-4, in pursuit of the kidnappers."
"I am in pursuit and our course is headed towards the
Tower," reported the Boomer.
"Take them out," ordered Madigan. "Car and all. It doesn't
matter."
"But the Minister?" responded the Boomer.
"It doesn't matter. He's just a puppet." Madigan slammed
her hand down on the counter. "If we don't seal his lips,
they'll be hell to pay latter."
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"They're slowing down. It's now or never."
"Strike."
"Commencing attack." The Boomer's eyes glowed red.
"Here he comes," said Anri.
"It's a GENOM operative." Largo's arms crossed and his eyes
were half closed. "All right, pull over."
From the AD Police chopper that was closing, Leon gasped
when a bolt of blue shot down from the clear evening sky.
Largo got out of the car and walked over to the burning
wreak that teetered on the edge of a hole the particle beam
weapon had punched though the highway. Largo knocked aside some
glass and ripped the boomer's nonfunctioning head from its body.
Largo's fingers melted into the cranium. The boomer's eyes
started to track him.
"What is it?" Asked Madigan. "Is something happening?"
"A woman," came Largo's voice over the fragile link.
"We're getting a visual," said the Teck'.
"I am Largo, the person who has Minister Callahan. I'll be
with you shortly." The vid' wobbled, jumped, and steadied. "I'm
of a mind to speak directly to the Tai-Pan."
"So that's how it is. You're really sure of yourself." A
glance confirmed to Madigan that this was being recorded. "So
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what do you want in exchange for the Minister?"
"Tell him `OMS', would you."
"The Overmind Control System? How in the world?"
"Oh, so you know what it is? You seem like a sharp one
indeed. Well, we'll meet soon." Largo crushed the boomer head.
"No...wait." The vid' ended; Madigan turned and stalked off
to the elevator to inform the Tai-Pan.
Largo turned and was about to go back to his car when a shot
ricocheted off of the still burning car.
"AD Police," shouted Leon. "You'll come quietly if you
don't want to be blown away." Largo merely stood and looked at
him as the chopper hovered. Leon gave the pilot a thumbs up
sign. "All right. Open both hands and lie face down." Largo
raised his left arm and pointed at the chopper. "What do you
think you're doing? Do as I say."
Flakes of red glowed in the silver and gold pupils of
Largo's eyes. The blue beam of destructive energy shot through
the AD Police chopper; the shock wave sent Leon flying.
Largo walked over to Leon and picked him up by the front of
his black leather jacket. "As high spirited as ever, aren't you,
Leon McNichol."
"You know...who I am?"
"Uh-huh, because my associates love you to death, you see."
Largo right hand slipped up around Leon's neck and he raised Leon
off the ground. "Die."
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Priss's aim was perfect. The bullet grazed Largo in the
right forearm and he dropped Leon. There was only one ark of
electricity from the wound. "Anri," called Priss.
Largo was annoyed as he raised his arm to the sky.
"Why that's..." said Anri. "Wait, Largo."
Largo dropped his arm and the beam thundered into the
highway just behind Priss. She went flying.
Anri, thought Priss.
As Priss landed and Largo walked back to the car, Anri
remember the subdued woman who had brought her the disk. She
remember the hug of sympathy they shared before Anri broken down
to cry. Priss turned quickly away, to hide her own tears.
"I've taken care of the interlopers," said Largo as he got
back in the car. "Let's go."
"Uh, yes Sir." Priss, Anri thought as she headed for GENOM.
"Aw shit." Priss struggled to her feet tossing another
shattered helmet away; she moved stiffly over to Leon. "Leon,
you ok?"
"Priss, what are you doing here?" Leon struggled to turn
over onto his back and took a deep breath.
"Just passing by. Who was that guy, anyway?"
"I dunno...it all happened so fast. Son of a bitch. A
monster should at least look like a monster."
Could it have been a satellite attack? Priss thought. But
how? We destroyed the black box interface that allowed a boomer
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to control the satellites.
"Priss. It's pretty dangerous this time. This isn't like
your previous enemies." Leon slowly sat up.
"What..what are you talking about?"
"Just listen to me. Don't stick you neck out any further.
Leave this to AD Police. I don't want you...getting hurt."
Priss stared at Leon as her heart pounded and her mind raced
with the thought: he knows. She shifted her attention to the
approaching choppers and turned to go to her bike. "Looks like
your friends are here. Have them pick you off of the ground."
Leon got up as Priss started her bike. "Priss. Will you be
all right? In the shape your in..."
She looked back at him holding his left elbow as the
choppers began to swirl the dust; she smiled. "No way am I
getting into bed with you, not even a hospital bed." Priss drove
the battered bike off as the AD Police arrived.
"What," said the Tai-Pan. He shut off the computer link in
his desk and looked at Madigan, who stood before him. "It's out
of the question. Giving him the OMS would result in him
replacing GENOM as the ruler of the world."
"But if word get's out from the Minister of our violations
of international law, they'll be protests from all over the
world."
"Protests we can deal with, but they can only occur if the
human species remains intact. Now, he's coming here?"
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"Yes, Sir. He was bold enough to contact us."
"All right." The Tai-Pan got out of his chair and walked
towards the three-story high windows that looked out over Mega-
Tokyo. "Send him to me without delay. I'll see him."
"But Sir, then you'd be..."
"I want to see, with my own eyes, the guy who's capable of
engineering something like this."
The Tinsel City Bank was by far the tallest structure in
that area of Mega-Tokyo; it's roof was demolished; there was a
severe water leak; a fire raged as The Knight Sabers backed up to
the edge of a long drop.
They were breathing hard. Sylia's suit had a gash running
down the mid-section. Linna's helmet was cracked and she was
trying to fight the dizzy feeling in her mind. Nene trembled.
"What are we gonna do Sylia? There's nowhere left to run."
Nene glanced over the edge and then back at the approaching
boomers, who were still functioning perfectly.
"Linna, Nene, I'll draw their attention. When I do, you two
beat it."
"Sylia, no," cried Linna.
"That's an order. Ok?"
"Sylia," said Linna and Nene.
"This is the finale," shouted a boomer as it opened up its
chest and the most powerful weapon it possessed came to bear on
them.
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"Knight Sabers...." started Sylia.
Directly behind the Knight Sabers, an armored chopper rose
up.
"Everyone duck," yelled Mackie over their comn' system. He
hit the missile launcher and sent a dozen into the boomers.
"Climb on quick."
They dashed up the stair into the chopper and Mackie pulled
away as the boomers still struggled to get out of the rageing
inferno and debris of the collapsed top three stories.
The Knight Sabers started to breath easier when they
collapsed onto a padded bench and took their helmets off. Sylia
brushed the hair out of her eyes, noticing that Linna's hair and
right side of her face was streaked with blood.
"Saved," said Linna softly. "That was a close one."
"We got trouble," yelled Mackie from the cock-pit. "Priss's
suit and motoroid are missing from the equipment bay."
"What?" Sylia collapsed further onto the bench. "She's
going it alone? I don't believe it."
"What? You let them slip through your fingers." Largo
looked at the vid' phone in the car. "This is not a total
surprise."
"We're terribly sorry," said the boomer. "There was some
incredible interference."
"Well fine. All of you head over here too. I'm putting on
a big show."
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"Yes Sir." The transmission ended.
"We'll arrive at the front entrance shortly," said Anri.
She turned the car down the GENOM exit off-ramp.
Callahan sat in the back seat and looked at his handcuffs.
In another minute they pulled to a stop at the main entrance
to GENOM. Madigan stood at the top of the steps and 20 men with
shades, cheap suits, and no expressions were with her. Ten C-
class boomers on the stairs, four behind Madigan and six on the
far side of the car.
Largo got out and stared up at Madigan. He smiled slightly
as Anri got out and stood behind him.
Callahan raced up the steps and stopped in front of Madigan.
"I'm...I'm terribly sorry. It was truly careless of me. But you
needn't worry, ma'am. I told them nothing concerning military
secrets..." Callahan screamed before the bullet hit him between
the eyes and his corps fell backwards to the steps.
Madigan handed the GENOM made Beretta to a boomer.
"Well, well...to sacrifice even a Minister," chuckled Largo.
"That's the GENOM way, all right."
"The Tai-Pan awaits. This way." Madigan turned and headed
into GENOM.
The lift they rode in went on the outside of the GENOM Tower
after it passed the point were the surrounding buildings stopped.
Largo gazed out across the city. The tiny flecks of red in
his pupils began to cover the gold and silver irises.
"Beautiful," he murmured. "Having once experience these heights,
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one may not be able to go back...not even if one is a sage."
"It's lovely," said Anri. "The light is swallowing
everything up."
"Soon, all of this light will be ours."
"Optimistic aren't you," said Madigan from the back of the
lift. "Burn this view into your eyes. You may not see it
again."
In a minute, the doors on the Tai-Pan's office swung shut
and he gazed at them from across the field of red carpeting.
Madigan moved down the room to stand with the Tai-Pan as Largo's
cold gaze stared back at them. There were eight C-class boomers
in the room, they kept to the sides. Anri kept silent and stood
behind Largo. This confrontation is what we've worked for, she
thought. Sylvie, I wish you could see this. The monster that
has oppressed us will do so no longer.
"Rather an impressive looking sort, aren't you," said the
Tai-Pan. "I've heard your demand from Madigan, here. Mind if I
ask you something? Why do you want this thing?"
"Cyberdroids are creatures which mankind created, ones with
the potential to become a new species. You people treat them
like nothing more than merchandise. It is only right for me to
have the OMS. It burdens corrupt, ignoble GENOM and especially
you, old man."
"Watch your mouth," yelled Madigan. "We won't take that."
"Hold it," commanded the Tai-Pan. "I tell you Largo, you
said your name was? Come, work for me. You've said enough about
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what you want to do. I want a man of your talents. Or else."
The eight boomers drew their guns and leveled them at Largo,
who didn't even blink.
"It seems you've slipped your moorings, Largo." Madigan's
smile was confidant.
"Let me show you something interesting." Largo took a few
steps into the room and glanced at the multivision that dominated
the walls. "Put the GENOM Towers around the world on the
multivision."
"What are you leading up to now?" Asked Madigan.
"Hold it. Do as he says." The Tai-Pan leaned forward and
bridged his fingers so he could rest his chin on them. His gaze
never waved from Largo as Madigan moved to the Tai-Pan's desk to
key a sequence into the computer. One by one the GENOM Towers
appeared. Some were enhanced satellite real-time pictures,
others were from stationary cameras near the Towers. They all
showed one general thing: that each and every Tower dominated the
local landscape.
"Now, on with the show." Largo turned to look at the
monitor that showed the Tower in Sydney. "For starters, the
Tower currently under construction in Sydney, Australia." From
the camera's point of view, there was a brief flash of light in
the sky; the beam slammed into the center of the Sydney Tower,
there was a white flash, and the camera went dead. "Next,
Illinois, the USA. Then Berlin, Germany." There was silence in
the office of the Tai-Pan as two more screens on his multivision
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went dead.
"What? What have you done?" said the Tai-Pan in disbelief.
"My will," said Largo calmly.
I have put my faith in a monster no better than the Tai-Pan,
thought Anri as she backed away from him.
"You mean, you have a direct link with the orbital particle
beam satellites?" The Tai-Pan was shaking his head.
"Precisely. If I so wish, my children will wipe all the
GENOM Towers off the face of the Earth."
"I can't believe this. USSD was supposed to have stopped
developing the killer dolls after that incident."
Quincy calmly opened up his files on the black box
component. So it ended up with him, he thought. Pathetic.
Largo's gaze was colder and sharper than the knife he kept
in his left boot. "So you still find it difficult to believe.
In that case, observe with your own eyes."
The view out the Tai-Pan's windows showed a never sleeping
city; GPCC stood tall against the eastern horizon, which was
beginning to lighten with predawn.
The first beam rammed itself down GPCC, which engulfed
blocks of the surrounding Mega-Tokyo. Fire swept over the beach
to be quenched by the sea. Three more bolts thundered out of the
black morning sky to pound into the helpless Mega-Tokyo.
"Are you a superboomer?" Screamed the Tai-Pan.
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"I prefer we stop using such crude language. My name is
Largo. I am the maker of the new world. Now, hand it over to me
so I can free all my children that you hold as your slaves."
"You rotten son of a bitch," spat Madigan. "Kill him."
Priss stood at the top of a building close to the GENOM
Tower. She silently watched the four infernos and could hear the
sirens of the human response. From her position she estimated
that each blast had destroyed a four city block area, and the
ensuring infernos only spread the damage in the heart of the
city. A distant explosion at the top of the GENOM Tower caught
her attention. That's it, she thought. We thought we got ride
of Mason's evil when the black box was destroyed, but we were
wrong. That guy was a boomer and he's probably with the Tai-Pan
right now. Anri will be with him. Anri, I will rescue you...for
both Sylvie's and your sakes. Here I come. She launched herself
off of the building and fell as her motoroid armor swooped down
to attached its self around her hardsuit. Sylia built the
motoroid suits so they could be controled through a secondary
remote system, up to a km. away. Priss activated the suit's
thrusters once the primary interface between her hardsuit and
motoroid armor was established. She headed for the GENOM Tower.
The last of the C-class boomers fell to the floor and Largo
approached the Tai-Pan, who backed up against a wall.
"No," said the Tai-Pan. An air of resolve settled over him.
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"Cyberdroids cannot possibly coexist with humans. If we released
them, they would become insanely destructive and a powerful enemy
of mankind."
"They are waiting, the multitudes of my people, who's hearts
and souls you have bound in slavery. I shall lead them."
"You bastard. Do you mean to become a God?"
"I don't know. That depends on human beings. They will
either acknowledge there place before a superior race or die."
Largo stopped suddenly, noticing that the Tai-Pan wasn't acting
quite right. The fear Largo thought should be there, wasn't.
Largo switched his vision so he could read the thermal patterns
of the Tai-Pan. They were a cold blue. "You trick me, Quincy."
A bolt of destructive energy leapt from Largo's hand to smash
through the head of the Tai-Pan. He slumped to the floor. "A
boomer double? It can't be. So far as I knew, the real Quincy
had to be here."
"Oh, no...Sir." Madigan was partially consciouses and only
fully realized the blow to Quincy; she passed out.
The multivision crackled to life and the Tai-Pan was
chuckling as his image sprang up before them, to lord over them.
"Well done...well done, Largo, or whatever your name is. Alas,
it was all for naught. It'll be a long time before anyone gets
the OMS. Especially you, you bastard."
Largo shattered the multivision along the whole wall with a
single gesture. He turned to look at Anri who stood there
amongst the destruction, untouched, but shaking. "There's no
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point in us staying any longer. Let's go Anri."
Metal clinked on shattered unbreakable glass; they both
turned to see a blue hardsuit enter the room, via the hole in the
glass Largo made in his brief combat with the boomers.
"Anri, I've come for you. Come with me."
"That voice," whispered Anri.
"Allow me to explain Anri. This is the bitch who killed
Sylvie."
Priss glanced about at the destruction as she came further
into the room. "I don't know what lies you've been filling her
head with, but I won't let you drag her any further into this."
"Priss. I can't believe you're one of the Knight
Sabers...that you killed Sylvie." As she spoke, Anri remembered
every detail of the last moment she had seen Sylvie. She ran her
fingers through Sylvie's short dark hair as she kissed her.
Sylvie winked as she walked out the door. "Don't worry, it'll be
easy," Sylvie had said.
"Anri, let me show you the true face of the perpetrator who
trampled your dreams under her feet." Largo waved his hand at
Priss and a blast of energy sent her crashing into the wall.
Largo added an extra bit at the top of the blast which Priss
caught right on the helmet; it shattered and Priss's face was
plainly visible.
"Priss...it can't be." Anri stared at Priss. She felt
something she had never felt before, rage. Anri had locked the
memory of their shared grief and the sympathetic hug into her CPU
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as an unbreakable example of human empathy. The rage filled
Anri, who longed to meet the person who killed her beloved
Sylvie. Largo knew all about her desire for vengeance.
Largo slipped the knife out of his left boot. He was
smiling as he walked behind Anri to slip the momento into Anri's
hand. Largo killed his first human with that knife.
Now is the time; she's upset. "She who killed your dear
Sylvie is your hated foe. Kill her. Kill her."
Anri ran across the room and drove the knife into the right
chest/side seam, were the chest plate and side plate met on
Priss's hardsuit, just above the abdomen. Priss didn't make a
move to stop Anri. She teetered, and reached a hand out to
steady herself against Anri's shoulder, blood dripping on the
floor.
"Sylvie. I've finally been able to avenge you..." Anri was
startled when she felt Priss's tears fall on her face. This
confused her and the rage leaked away. "Priss, why?"
"Sylvie was beyond help. If I hadn't done what I did, D.D.
would've exploded, wiping out the entire city. I'm sorry...I'm
so sorry...there was nothing I could do...I couldn't protect
her." Priss hugged Anri, driving the knife deeper into herself.
Largo couldn't contain his laughter at this pathetic scene
played out between a foolish human and a stupid sexaroid. As he
laughed, Anri twirled around to face him; the knife clinked on
the floor; Priss collapsed to her knees.
"Looking to apologize, Priss?" Largo's smile was the lion
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smile. "It amazes me that you were actually able to shoot that
33-S, Sylvie. Had it continued on, out of control, it would've
been an amusing scene. Still, after D.D.'s existence became
public knowledge, that eyesore, Flint, fell from grace. GPCC
become completely mine and thus I accelerated development of the
hyperboomers, which nearly destroyed the Knight Sabers tonight."
"So Sylvie was..." exclaimed Anri.
"A cat's paw of mine, I suppose you might say. But it was
just one sexaroid, nothing of consequence. Huh? Why are you
looking at me like that, Priss? Oh, is this hurting you? Well,
it's not as if you can do anything about it now. All right, step
aside, Anri. You too have served your purpose. Playtime is
over."
Destructive fire leapt from Largo's hand straight towards
Priss's face; Anri stepped in the way and screamed.
Priss felt risidual energy tingle by her check as blood
splattered across her face; Anri dropped into her arms. Priss
gasped when she saw the wound. It was close to a mirror image of
what had killed Sylvie. This event surprised and puzzled Largo.
"Anri, why?" choked Priss.
"Largo and I wanted to make a world for our kind, but I
didn't want to destroy the city, or kill people either. Sylvie
felt the same, I'm sure."
"Don't talk, Anri." Oh God, why is this happening again?
"Priss, I beg you, live...live for me..and for Sylvie.
Priss....thank...you....." Anri's hand fell away from Priss's
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shoulder armor, leaving it smeared with blood.
* * *
The wall of green/black flame soared up, down, in all
directions in front of Anri's startled light green eyes; the wall
stretched towards infinity. Anri felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Anri, don't be afraid."
* * *
"You little idiot," cried Priss. "If you die, what will
Sylvie have died for?"
"Dead, eh? Or rather, I imagine it would be more exact to
say that it has ceased functioning. It is a machine, after all."
"You bastard," screamed Priss as she stood, aimed, and
fired. The laser streaked straight at Largo's head. There was a
flash of light and Largo held a 20 cm. long, thin, needle like,
silver piece of metal. Priss was astounded.
"Is this all your anger amounts to?" Largo flipped it
casually and the silver needle buried its self in Priss's right
shoulder. Before she could dodge, Largo stuck Priss, which sent
her out the shattered glass windows in the Tai-Pan's office to
crash onto a level deck that was one story down. Priss managed
to soften the crash by activating her thrusters.
"How stupid of you to think you were a match for me." Largo
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laughed down at her. "You've come all this way, only to die like
a dog."
Priss rose to her knees and pulled the piece of metal from
her shoulder with a pain filled grunt. She rose to her feet. "I
won't be beaten. I can't be beaten, not in this fight."
"Allow me to pay homage to your admirable, albeit trifling
bravery, Priss." The human veneer melted away to reveal the
boomer underneath. "Take a good look. This is the look of the
true victor."
When the C-class boomers shed their human guise, they looked
like bulky, armor plated attempts at the human form. Largo was
crafted with the skill of a Michelangelo. His body could have
been a metal copy of David; the very best space alloys could have
been poured together and then taken on a life of their own to
form a seamless masterpiece. Largo's skin tone was a sickly
green and there appeared red cracks of power radiating from his
temples towards the center of the face; his eyes glowed a burning
red, the killing red of uncontrolable violence.
"Now I will kill you with a thought," said Largo.
"You can't be," murmured Priss.
There was a thunk from the shadows, off to the left, and
both combatants turned their attention to it. Priss was about to
cry yes, because it appeared to be a Knight Saber in her motoroid
armor, but Priss's cry died unspoken as one of the combat boomers
stepped from the shadows. Another one dropped down five meters
behind Priss, the third appeared out of the shadows on Priss's
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right.
Largo laughed and leisurely started down the steps to the
deck were Priss was. "It seems I won't need to dirty my hands
after all. Kill her."
The one to Priss's left took to the air; Priss did like
wise. Priss nailed it right in the face with a laser blast; it
grabbed her by the helmet. The helmet was cracking under the
pressure and Priss saw the boomer hurtle it's fist right toward
her face. It struck empty air as Priss ducked down out of her
helmet; she slipped between it's legs. Priss couldn't avoid the
second boomer which ripped the chest plate of her hardsuit off
with one swipe of its hand. The force of the blow sent her into
a wall were she lay sprawled out, trying to collect herself.
This is humiliating, thought Priss. Shit. Is this the end?
The three boomers stood over her and then backed off as Largo
approached.
He kicked her. "You will carry this humiliation to you're
grave, worm."
"I want power," whispered Priss as the tears rolled down her
cheeks. "Enough power to lay this bastard low. Greater,
stronger power."
One of Largo's boomers exploded. Through the flames, Priss
saw a new motoroid battlesuit. The second of confusion was
enough for Priss to start towards the suit.
"Go," ordered Largo. "Oh no you don't." He started to cut
off Priss, but Priss had already linked her hardsuit with the
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computer in the motoroid armor. It shot at Largo, who backed
away and then nailed both boomers; they were momentarily stunned.
As Priss raced for the motoroid; the chest plates swung out and
there was the new, more powerful hardsuit Sylia had been working
on for months. The hardsuit sprang open as Priss ran out of her
old one after she ordered the suit integrity to fall apart. It
took seconds to get into the new hardsuit as the boomers
approached.
"Here I come, you monstrous bastards," screamed Priss as she
thrusted towards the first approaching boomer. She dodged a
blast and blew its head off. The last boomer stood between her
and Largo. "You're in my way." She flipped around its laser
fire and her blast caught it right in the chest, blowing a hole
straight through it's middle. It collapsed into a heap and she
headed towards Largo. Priss came in feet first to catch him with
a kick; Largo easily stepped aside and Priss slammed into a wall.
Largo struck; Priss just managed to get out of the way. The
blast of energy rippled into the wall, shredding the reinforced
steel and concrete.
Priss was in a crouch, breathing hard. "What incredible
destructive power. If he'd actually connected..."
"So the worm is a worm after all. With my next attack, I'll
send you to hell."
I won't run, thought Priss. I won't run away again. Anri,
Sylvie, give me strength. Priss screamed a incomprehensible
battle cry.
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"Die," screamed Largo.
They rushed together, knuckleblaster to Largo's might, and
met fist to fist.
Largo was the first to rear back from the explosion of
energy. He clutched at his burning, disintegrating arm and
screamed.
"I...I did it." Priss teetered; her mind swam; Sylia rushed
in and supported her. "Sylia," gasped Priss. The right arm of
her hardsuit was shredded and most of Priss's arm was peeled back
to the bone; some charred remnant of flesh clinged to pulverized
bone.
"Well done Priss. Looks like we made it just in time."
"Priss," called Linna and Nene from their descending
chopper.
"All...of...you," managed Priss.
"Human beings...how vulgar," spat Largo. He grasped the
stub of his left arm up near the shoulder, it was all that was
left of his arm. "For the crime of injuring me, a God...I
demand, as atonement, death." He raised his remaining arm
straight up into the air. Largo recalibrated the focus of the
beam to a tight focus and it took several seconds.
"Oh no, Linna," cried Sylia.
Linna was in her motoroid armor, it was equipped with a
powerful laser gun. "Nene, support me," called out Linna.
"Ok." The wings of interfacing equipment on Nene's hardsuit
folded out and they began.
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"Error correction, left .06 degrees," called out Linna.
"Die," screamed Largo.
"Fire," cried Linna and Nene. Their laser cannon
discharged. The laser blast shot past the slower moving particle
beam shot in low Earth orbit; the satellite was blown apart. The
particle beam seared into the top of the GENOM Tower, missing the
Knight Sabers and engulfing Largo.
Seconds passed. From the raging fire at the edge of the
GENOM Tower, Largo appeared. He was on fire and smiling the lion
smile. "Sylia...Sylia Stingray."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know...that you and I are two of a kind...because..."
The standard laser cannon that all combat boomers have in their
mouth came forward to fire.
"Sylia, look out," cried Linna.
A shot rang out and
impact was enough to knock him off of the unstable edge of the
into the distance of the fall. There was a massive explosion
when Largo hit, though it looked small and inconsequential to the
Knight Sabers 1000m above, at the top of the GENOM Tower. The
Knight Sabers turned to look at Leon, who waved from a hovering
chopper.
Anri, Sylvie, thought Priss. With a final gasp, she passed
out and Sylia started to hustle her to their chopper.
The Knight Sabers lifted off as the first rays of dawn
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struck the top of the GENOM Tower; Mega-Tokyo started the long
process of healing its self from the wounds of this long night.